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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Ranchi: Temple guard bludgeoned to death during robbery attempt, 3 held
Ranchi (PTI): A 60-year-old security guard of a temple in Ranchi was bludgeoned to death with a stone during a robbery attempt, police said on Saturday.
The incident happened late on Thursday at the Jagannath Temple in the Dhurwa Smart City area, they said.
"Three persons were arrested on Friday for killing the security guard. They confessed to the crime and told police that the victim had identified them. Therefore, in fear of being caught, they killed him by attacking him with a stone on his head," SSP Rakesh Ranjan said.
"Thereafter, they took money from the donation box and fled the scene. Two of them have criminal antecedents," he added.
Ranjan said the investigators recovered Rs 3 lakh in cash that had been robbed, the stone with blood-stained marks, and the iron rod used to break open the lock of the donation box kept there.
An FIR in this regard was lodged at the Dhurwa police station, he said, adding that the accused were sent to judicial custody by a court.
