Udupi: The Udupi District Sessions Court on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to the accused in a Dalit girl rape case that took place three years back in the limits of Karkala rural police station.

The accused Pradeep Pujari (30), a resident of Kairabettu in Kalya taluk, had raped an 18-year-old Dalit girl on September 10, 2014.

The next day, Karkala police had arrested Pradeep under article 376, 323, 506 and IPC sections 3(1), (12).

Another attempt of sexual assault on the same day

The accused Pradeep Pujari had made a rape attempt on another girl on the same day. In this regard, a case was registered against him under POSCO act. Only after a few minutes of raping the Dalit girl, Pradeep Pujari caught hold a 17-year-old girl, returning from school, and allegedly proposed her. When she refused, Pradeep slapped her. Anyhow the girl escaped.

In this regard, a case was registered at Karkala rural police station, and now it is in court.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday said a 7-km railway barricade has been approved for the Madikeri division and 20 km for the Nagarhole division in 2025–26 to curb human-elephant conflict in the regions.

Responding to a proposal raised by BJP MLC Suja Kushalappa during Zero Hour in the Legislative Council, he assured that work on the proposed railway barricades would begin soon.

Citing the death of a 17-year-old girl in an elephant attack on February 28 and that of a tribal woman on March 9 in the state, the minister said these deaths caused by elephant attacks were "extremely painful".

"Human life is very precious and cannot be valued in monetary terms. The Forest Department is taking all measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict."

The minister further said steps such as maintenance of elephant-proof trenches and solar-powered fencing were being undertaken, while two elephant task forces were currently in operation.

Orders have also been issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden to capture two rogue elephants.

In both cases, Rs 5 lakh compensation has already been disbursed to the families of the deceased, and the remaining Rs 15 lakh each will be provided within a week, he added.

Khandre said the government was making sincere efforts to find a permanent solution to the human–elephant conflict.