10 sentenced for assaulting SC persons for complaining against upper caste people in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Nov 18: The High Court of Karnataka has sentenced 10 people on seven counts with sentences ranging from two months to one year for assaulting members of Schedule Castes for complaining against upper caste people.
All the accused from Dunda village in Tumakuru district were earlier acquitted by a Trial Court in 2011.
Overturning the lower court verdict and refusing the contention of the accused for a lenient view, the HC said, “This Court cannot lost (lose) the sight of the fact that without any justification, the accused have chosen to enter the 'Harijan' colony and indiscriminately assault the complainant and others for the simple reason that two of them approached the police and complain against accused No.1.”.
A complaint had been filed by members of the Scheduled Castes against one D R Sudeep with regard to an incident that took place on the land of one Shivamurthy.
“The accused have chosen to assault complainant and others for the simple reason that though they belong to Schedule Caste, they had the courage or audacity of complaining against person belonging to forward community,” Justice J M Khazi noted in his recent verdict while setting aside the judgement of the III Additional Sessions Court, Tumakuru which had acquitted the accused.
There were a total of 11 accused in the case: D R Sudeep, Jayamma, Nataraja, B K Srinivas, D K Shankaraiah, D B Shivakumar, Harsha, B S Shivalingaiah, D N Prakash, Gowramma and Kalpana. Shivalingaiah died during the course of the trial.
They were charged under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148, 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324, 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The original complaint was filed by Lakshmamma on August 14, 2008. The accused had allegedly barged into the Harijan Colony “where all the Dalits are having their residence and referring to their caste, abused them. They assaulted the complainant and others with clubs, stones and caused bleeding injuries.”.
The lower court disposed of the case on June 23, 2011 acquitting the accused. The State did not file an appeal, but Lakshmamma filed a criminal appeal in the High Court in 2011.
The HC said the trial court has failed to appreciate the evidence and acquitted the accused.
“Without examining the oral and documentary evidence placed on record, the trial court has hurriedly come to a wrong conclusion that the prosecution failed to bring home guilt to the accused. The view taken by the trial court is wholly unreasonable and is not a plausible view,” it observed.
The HC also said there was a wrong interpretation of the evidence on hand. “Certainly, there is non-consideration of evidence placed on record. There is also palpable misreading of evidence and consequently, the conclusions arrived at by the trial court is perverse. It is a fit case to interfere in exercise of Appellate jurisdiction of this Court,” the high court said.
It convicted all the accused “under Sections 143, 147, 148, 323, 324 r/w Section 149 of IPC and Section 3(1)(x) and (xi) of SC and ST (POA) Act.” They were sentenced to two months imprisonment each under Section 143 of the IPC, one month each under Section 147, one month each under Section 148, one month each under Section 323, one year each under Section 324, one year each under Section 3(1) and Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST (POA) Act.
However all the sentences “shall run concurrently,” the HC said.
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Mangaluru man creates India’s first beeswax chessboard, enters record book
Mangaluru: A unique chessboard made entirely from beeswax has earned Prajwal M, a beekeeper from Kinnigoli near Mangaluru, a place in the India Book of Records.
According to a report published by The Times of India on Wednesday, the handmade beeswax chessboard was showcased at a state-level agricultural exhibition held at the University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK), Bengaluru, last month. The exhibit attracted widespread attention for its creativity and eco-friendly design.
"The beeswax chessboard measuring 20cm by 26cm works like any other chessboard. The only condition is that it should not be exposed to heat," as a full-time beekeeper and founder of Coastal Honey Bee Farm, I have been experimenting with various value-added products from beeswax and honey," TOI quoted Prajwal as saying.
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Prajwal, who runs the Coastal Honey Bee Farm reportedly said, he has been experimenting with value-added products made from honey and beeswax. An MBA graduate, Prajwal took up beekeeping during Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the idea for the chessboard came after he won a state-level award in October, following which he was invited to display an innovative product at the GKVK exhibition.
Initially, I thought of creating a statue, but I realised it would not be possible to complete it within four days. That is when the idea of making a chessboard struck me. Later, I was told that this is the first chessboard of its kind in India, he said.
As per the report, a native of Talipadi village in Dakshina Kannada district, Prajwal is the son of Sunita and Madhava Shettigar. Apart from the chessboard, he has developed over 25 value-added products, including skincare items, kajal, dry fruit honey and other honey-based products. He is also involved in training programmes for aspiring beekeepers and conducts awareness sessions for schoolchildren.
In recognition of his efforts, Prajwal was conferred the state-level Young Beekeeper Award earlier this year. He hopes to commercially introduce the chessboard soon.
