CM Siddaramaiah vows fast-track trial in honour killing of pregnant woman in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said ensuring a swift investigation and justice in the alleged honour killing of a young pregnant woman was the state government’s top priority, and announced steps to set up a fast-track court for the case.
The case relates to the killing of Manya, a pregnant woman from the Lingayat community, allegedly by her family members at Inam Veerapur village in Hubballi taluk on December 21, for marrying a Dalit youth, Vivekananda Doddamani.
"Ensuring a swift investigation into the honour killing of Manya and delivering justice to the affected family is our top priority. In this context, the government will take steps to establish a fast-track court," Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X'.
He noted that as the case falls under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the charge sheet must be filed within 60 days, and added that steps were being taken to appoint special public prosecutors to ensure timely and effective prosecution.
Strongly condemning caste-based violence, the chief minister said forcing a woman into marriage against her will or targeting individuals for rejecting marriage proposals, including through assaults and honour killings, were "despicable acts that shame human society."
Siddaramaiah asserted that such crimes would not be tolerated and announced that the government plans to enact a special law to curb such incidents and raise legal awareness.
He said the proposal would be discussed in the next session of the legislature.
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Chair hurled at Union Minister of State V. Somanna during public event in Koppal
Koppal: Tension prevailed for a brief period at Hitnal village in Koppal taluk on Monday after a chair was allegedly hurled at Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, during a public function.
The incident occurred when Somanna was attending the foundation stone–laying ceremony for a railway flyover near Hitnal village.
According to reports, a group of Congress workers expressed anger over the alleged exclusion of Koppal MP K. Rajashekar Basavaraj Hitnal and District In-charge Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi from the invitation list for the program. During the incident, a chair was reportedly thrown, but the Minister was unharmed as his security personnel intervened in time.
Following the incident, chaos ensued at the venue for some time, with protesters allegedly throwing chairs and staging a demonstration in front of Somanna’s vehicle, accusing the organisers of violating protocol.
The railway flyover project, being taken up for Rs 27 crore, connects the Hitnal–Munirabad–Ginigera stretch.
Reacting to the incident, Somanna said the project was fully funded by the Central government and denied any breach of protocol. “There was no violation of etiquette related to the programme. The disturbance was created intentionally,” he said.
