Report linking Kalkuli Vittal Hegde, Kadidal Shamanna to Naxalism: Two scribes fined
Chikmagaluru: Sringeri First Sessions Court on Friday slapped a fine of Rs 20000 each on two journalists on charges of publishing a defamatory report on environmental activist Kalkuli Vittal Hegde and farmers leader Kadidal Shamanna linking them with naxal activities.
The court has fined an editor and residential editor of a state level newspaper.
On June 3, 2007, Hosadiganta newspaper has published the report on its front page against Kalkuli Vittal Hegde and Kadidal Shamanna under the headline 'Kalkuli Vittal Hegde, Kadidal Shamanna have naxal links: Here is proof', alleging that they have naxal links.
Against the report, Hegde moved the court and filed a defamation case saying that it was a false news. By making a news, the newspaper has tarnished his image and insulted him, he complained.
After a prolonged hearing of the case, judge S Suryanarayan, on January 25, 2019, had announced the verdict citing that the editor of the newspaper have failed to prove their version of the news. Based on publishing the defamatory news, the court opined that newspaper editor Du Ga Lakshman and resident editor S Shantaram have done cognizable offence under IPC Section 500, 501 and 502.
For this case, the court has slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 to each of the journalists and if they failed to pay the penalty, the journalists have to undergo seven months imprisonment. Moreover, the photo published in the newspaper was taken in 1998 and during that time, there was no naxal movement in Malnad region. That photo was taken during public awareness meetings related to Kudremukh National Park issue. Parvathi who was with Vittal Hegde and Shamanna, in that photo, was not involved in naxal movement at that time, the court observed in its verdict.
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Annpurna Devi expresses anguish over girl's rape in TN, urges NCW to act
New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Tuesday expressed her anguish over the alleged gang rape of a girl in Tamil Nadu and urged the National Commission for Women to take immediate cognisance of the matter.
In a post on X, Devi said, "Deeply anguished by this horrific incident. I urge the NCW to take immediate cognisance and act swiftly in coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the strictest action against all culprits."
Devi said, "Justice must be swift and unsparing — the accused must be brought to book without delay," adding, "the safety, dignity, and justice of every daughter of India remain our highest priority."
"We stand firmly with the survivor and her family in this difficult hour," she said.
Reacting to a post by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who flagged concerns over the law and order situation in the state, Devi said such incidents "expose grave concerns" under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.
Annamalai, in his post, alleged that a 15-year-old girl from Kanchipuram, who had come to participate in a temple festival near Seyyaru in Tiruvannamalai district, was gangraped.
He said the incident was "deeply shocking and enraging" to him and alleged that such crimes point to a "complete failure" of law and order in Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai demanded immediate arrest of all those involved and the "harshest punishments" for the accused.
He also called for full protection and mental health counselling for the survivor and her family.
