98 people sentenced to life imprisonment for attacks on Dalits

Koppal: The Koppal Chief District and Sessions Court has sentenced 98 people to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each for their roles in the brutal attack on Dalits in Marakumbi village. The convicts were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Principal District and Sessions Judge and Special Judge S Chandra Sekhar also sentenced three others to five years’ imprisonment.

The case filed by the Gangawati rural police initially named 117 people, but some of the accused have since died and some names have been repeated in the chargesheet. Ultimately, the court found 101 defendants guilty.

The brutal incident took place on August 29, 2014 in Marakumbi village, Gangavati Taluk, when an upper caste mob attacked members of the SC community and also set several houses on fire.

After a 10-year trial, on August 21, the court found all the accused guilty. The court issued its sentencing order on Thursday.

Meanwhile, one of the convicts, Ramanna Lakshman Bhovi, who collapsed at the court premises on Thursday after the verdict was pronounced, was hospitalized.

Police officials said he died Friday morning.

He was one of the three sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000.