Koppal Dalit atrocity case: High Court grants bail to 97 sentenced to life imprisonment
Koppal: The Dharwad High Court bench has granted bail to 97 individuals sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2014 Marakumbi village Dalit atrocity case. Each accused was granted bail upon furnishing a bond worth Rs. 50,000 and one surety.
The Koppal District and Sessions Court had earlier convicted 101 individuals in connection with the assault, which included setting fire to Dalit huts. Among the convicted, 98 were sentenced to life imprisonment under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and others were sentenced to five-year imprisonment.
Three individuals from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who were exempt from charges under the caste discrimination law, were sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of Rs. 2,000.
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Al Jazeera condemns Palestinian Authority's decision to bar it from operating in occupied West Bank
Dubai, Jan 2: Al Jazeera has condemned the Palestinian Authority's decision to bar it from operating in the occupied West Bank, saying the decision was “in line” with similar actions taken by Israel.
In a statement Thursday, the Qatar-based broadcaster accused the Western-backed authority of seeking to “hide the truth about events in the occupied territories, especially what is happening in Jenin and its camps.”
The Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on security matters, launched a rare crackdown on anti-Israel group in the urban Jenin refugee camp last month. The authority has international support but is unpopular among many Palestinians, with critics portraying it as a subcontractor of the Israeli occupation.
The Palestinian Authority announced the suspension of Al Jazeera's activities on Wednesday, accusing it of incitement and interfering in Palestinian internal affairs. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel banned Al Jazeera last year, accusing it of being a mouthpiece of Hamas. Israeli strikes have killed or wounded several Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza, and Israel has accused some of them of being Hamas members. Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera's West Bank headquarters last year, but the broadcaster has continued to operate in the territory.
Al Jazeera denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its coverage. Its 24-hour reporting from Gaza has focused on the deaths of Palestinian civilians. It has also broadcast Hamas and other group videos in their entirety, showing attacks on Israeli forces and hostages speaking under duress.
Al Jazeera deplores the Palestinian Authority's decision to close its office in the West Bank and considers it in line with the occupation's actions against its staff. pic.twitter.com/VrGHiM9UzC
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 2, 2025
