MANGALORE: Parents of 17-year-old Nirmala (name changed) suspect that their daughter was murdered after a "gang rape" by at least three persons.

They expressed their doubts before Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights team, which arrived at the victim's house at Pangala in Dharmasthala. Chairman of the commission HR Umesh Aradhya, members Vanita Torvi and B Shivarajegowda also visited the place, where her body was found, to collect information on the incident of rape and murder of the minor girl.

Parents told the commission that there was no possibility of Santhosh Rao, who was arrested in connection with the case, committing the crime alone. "At least three persons must have been involved in the rape and murder incident. The victim's sister will be able to identify the accused. She was murdered elsewhere and her body dumped at the spot where it was later found. The body was not there when we searched the same spot a day before. However, the body was found at the spot the next day," parents informed the commission.

Umesh Aradhya told reporters that the commission would make arrangements to submit the information collected on the minor girl's rape and murder to the court through the department concerned. "The matter is being investigated by the CID, and the commission will ensure that the investigation is not delayed," he said. Her family members also expressed their anger on the late arrival of the commission.

The minor girl was found raped and murdered on October 9 at Pangala near Dharmasthala. Eyewitnesses said that they had seen the girl get down from the bus at Pangala, 8 km from Ujire, near Shantivana Hospital to go to her house. From the bus stop her house is just about a kilometer's walk, but the place is totally deserted. The victim's body was found at a deserted spot inside the forest near the house at 11am on October 10 by villagers.

Though Delhi is witnessing intense protest against the gang rape of a 23-year-old para-medical student, the district has not seen any such mass movement in connection with the minor girl's rape and death.

Many political parties and students organizations had held protests at various places in the district. Public is expressing their anger through Facebook and other social networking sites than protests.

A banner questioning the minor girl's death had surfaced at Kaniyoor recently.