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The Manipal police, if nothing else, are an honest bunch. They admit the rape case involving a fourth year MBBS student has been one of the toughest cases they have handled so far. And that five days after the incident on Thursday night, they are nowhere close to achieving a breakthrough.

So this is what they have done so far: Interrogated 47 persons without securing any leads, announced a two lakh rupees reward for any clues that will lead to the rapists, release the sketch of one of the three suspects, as well as the CCTV footage of the area from where the student was abducted at 1130 pm on Thursday.

Sources say the police have not been able to question the student for details that could lead them to the culprits. She is in a state of shock and the cops have had to send in questionnaires through the doctors. They say the student has not co-operated with the investigation so far.

But the incident has certainly affected students in Manipal. Many of them admitted to getting phone calls from worried parents, advising them against venturing out alone or after dusk. "My parents told me it is okay if you have to bunk classes but under no circumstances, take a risk like walking alone from the library close to midnight," says Seema Bharadwaj, a nursing student.

"We are scared. Manipal was such a secure place. We want the culprits booked. Let the police arrest them and give them to us. We will give them due punishment," says an angry R Sarita, a student of Homeopathy.

Manipal University, home to some 18000 students, has now decided to tighten the rules. From the next academic year, all girls will have to stay on campus. At present, only the first and second year students have to stay in a hostel. But it will be easier said than done given that hostel facilities are 2500 seats short.

To ensure foolproof security, the Manipal Police, which is short-staffed, now wants the University’s security personnel to take responsibility of safety of the students within the campus. It also wants the University to instal more CCTVs and screen all vehicles that enter the campus.

Autorickshaw drivers have been at the receiving end of public ire ever since the incident took place. Realising it has given the entire tribe a bad name, many of them are accompanying police teams to help identify the culrpits.

Those who know the town inside out say Manipal University and even commercial establishments will do anything to keep the students happy and safe because they are entirely dependent on the student economy. A situation where the number of admissions starts dwindling will be disastrous for Manipal.

Incidentally, 2013 is the diamond jubilee year of Manipal University but after this incident, the authorities have decided to keep the event low-key.