1 year on, mother of ‘murder victim’ still awaits compensation promised by D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru

Nearly one year after the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old tribal girl in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district, the victim’s mother is still waiting for the compensation that was publicly promised by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

The victim, Khushi, a deaf and mute girl belonging to the Hakki Pikki tribal community, was found dead near railway tracks in Ramanagara district on May 12, 2025, under circumstances that triggered widespread outrage and demands for justice.

Khushi, a Class 8 student studying in Bengaluru Urban district, had come to her native village, Bhadrapura, during her summer vacation. According to family members, she went missing on the evening of May 11 while attending a birthday gathering near her residence. Despite frantic searches by relatives and villagers throughout the night, she could not be traced. Her body was discovered the following morning near railway tracks, sending shockwaves across the region.

The incident led to large-scale protests in the village, with residents alleging that the minor girl had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered. Following public outrage, police registered a case and launched an extensive investigation. Several suspects were detained and questioned, while CCTV footage from nearby locations was scrutinised as part of the probe.

At the time, Ramanagara Superintendent of Police R Srinivas Gowda had constituted three separate Special Investigation Teams headed by senior police officers to investigate the case from multiple angles.

Deputy Chief Minister (Dy.CM) D K Shivakumar had personally visited the grieving family shortly after the incident and termed the death “highly suspicious,” pointing to visible injury marks on the girl’s head. During the visit, two compensation cheques — one for ₹4.12 lakh and another for ₹50,000 — were handed over to Khushi’s mother on May 14, 2025. The amount was reportedly supposed to be released through the district administration.

However, according to the victim’s family, not a single rupee has been credited even after one year.

Speaking to blrpost.com, Khushi’s mother said that officials had instructed her to open a separate bank account exclusively for receiving the compensation amount. Despite complying with all formalities, she said the promised financial assistance never reached her account.

“Dy.CM Shivakumar had assured us that the money would be released immediately. Even after one year, we have not received anything. It appears that Ramanagara district’s Deputy Commissioner is more powerful than Shivakumar,” she alleged.

Expressing frustration over the delay, the mother said she had been repeatedly visiting government offices seeking clarity but without success.

“I am tired of running from pillar to post. The Deputy Commissioner says compensation can be released only if police confirm that the death was caused by sexual assault and violence. Otherwise, they cannot provide compensation,” she said.

She further alleged that the Bidadi police have neither provided the family with a copy of the postmortem report nor disclosed details regarding the progress of the investigation.

“In such a situation, how can we expect justice?” she questioned.

The grieving mother reiterated her allegation that her daughter had been sexually assaulted before being killed and questioned the prolonged delay in the investigation.

“How many years do the police need to investigate this case?” she asked, urging Shivakumar to intervene personally.