A court in Bhadravati has delivered a landmark verdict, convicting four individuals for their involvement in caste-based atrocities, along with charges of assault and criminal intimidation. Each perpetrator has been sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and ordered to pay substantial penalties.
The incident, which occurred on November 13, 2022, involved Rajappa (51), Bharath (20), Ranganath (34), and Hanumanthappa (53), all residents of Anaveri in Bhadravati taluk. The four men initiated a dispute with Thimmappa from the same village over a land matter. They forcibly removed him from his home and subjected him to a violent assault, including throwing chili powder in his face.
Following the horrific incident, the Holehonnur police promptly registered a case. Charges were filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alongside relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly the Indian Penal Code).
Jitendra Kumar Dayama, who was then the Assistant Superintendent of Police for the Bhadravati sub-division, led a thorough investigation, culminating in the filing of a comprehensive charge-sheet. The Fourth Additional District and Sessions Court in Bhadravati presided over the case, ultimately delivering the recent judgment.
In addition to the two-year prison sentences, each of the four convicted individuals faces a penalty of ₹77,000. Significantly, the court has mandated that ₹2 lakh from the total penalty amount be directly awarded to the victim, ensuring a measure of restitution and justice.