POCSO case: Accused journalist remanded to judicial custody
Udupi, Dec 3: The principal district and sessions court remanded journalist Chandra K Hemmadi who was arrested on charges of sexually abusing 21 minor boys under POCSO Act, to 14 days judicial custody.
He was in police custody for three days from November 29 and as his interrogation was completed and his custody was ended on December 2, investigating officer Byndoor circle inspector Parameshwar R. Gunaga produced him before the court on Monday. Judge Venkatesh Naik remanded the accused to 14 days judicial custody and later, he was taken to district jail situated at Hiriyadka.
Following complaints from 21 boys, 16 cases were filed in Byndoor police station, three cases in Gangolli police station and one case each was filed in Kundapura rural and Kollur police stations under the POCSO Act. It is said that few more boys are likely to give complaints against the accused.
Being a singer, Chandra Hemmadi used to visit schools and colleges for giving programmes and later, he used to publish the news of those programmes in newspapers and thus gained the confidence of the teachers, parents and students. Under the guise of journalist, he used to take the students on motorbikes to show him the places of news and sexually exploit them. If any students oppose his act, he was threatening them with knife points and it was disclosed in the interrogation, said SP Lakshman Nimbargi.
First case in state
It is the first case in the history of the state that 21 cases were filed against an accused under the POCSO Act. Now, the investigating officers have been investigating the case in different angles and there are chances of filing few more cases against him. If the charges are proved against the accused, there is an option to impose life imprisonment to the accused, district special public prosecutor Vijaya Vasu Poojary said.
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Teenager beheaded in 4-decade-old fight over land in UP's Jaunpur; revenue officer suspended
Jaunpur (UP), Oct 30: A 17-year-old boy was beheaded with a sword in a fight over a piece of land in Kabiruddinpur village of this district on Wednesday, police said.
The dispute over the land is 40 years old and the matter is currently in a civil court, according to district administration officials.
While District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra suspended Lekhpal (local revenue officer) Jagdish Yadav, a report has been sent to the administration for action against Revenue Inspector Munni Lal, who oversees the area, the officials said.
Superintendent of Police Ajaypal Sharma said the violence was a consequence of a land dispute between villagers Ramjeet Yadav and Lalta Yadav.
"Ramesh Yadav, son of Lalta Yadav, began clearing grass from the disputed land ahead of Diwali this morning that flared up the tension," he said.
"During the confrontation, Ramesh attacked Anurag Yadav, son of Ramjeet Yadav, with a sword and decapitated him," he added.
Lalta Yadav was arrested after the incident and a hunt is on for his son Ramesh.
Additional police forces have been stationed in the village to prevent any further flare-ups.
An FIR has been registered against six individuals in connection with the case at Gaurabadshahpur police station.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav decried the violence and alleged there was no law and order left in the state.
"There is a strange contradictory relationship between today's government and crime. On one hand, both are together, on the other hand, the weaker and more inactive the government is becoming, the more powerful and active the criminals are becoming. Today's UP says we don't want BJP," he said on X.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) R A Chauhan has been appointed to conduct a magisterial inquiry in the case and submit a report within three days.
In a statement, District Magistrate Chandra condemned the crime as "heinous" and assured strict administrative action against those responsible.
He further said the dispute is 40 years old and is currently under civil court review.
