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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Two held in UP's Bijnor for contact with Pakistan linked Dubai handler
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Bijnor (PTI): Two men were arrested in this Uttar Pradesh district on Friday for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Dubai, police said.
Circle Officer, Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi said Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider were arrested following inputs on their alleged links with Aqib, a resident of Meerut currently staying in Dubai.
According to police, Aqib had earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.
During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, the officer said, adding that detailed questioning of the accused is underway.
On April 6, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha said the video first surfaced in November last year. Aqib, a native of Sathla village in the Mawana area of Meerut, was allegedly seen in the video brandishing weapons.
Following the viral clip, a case was registered at the Nangal police station by sub-inspector Vinod Kumar. However, the then station house officer and investigating officer Satyendra Singh had recorded Aqib's statement and filed a final report, stating that the weapons seen in the video were toys, effectively giving him a clean chit.
Police said fresh developments have now revealed Aqib's suspicious links and the probe has been handed over to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
The SP said action has been taken against the officials concerned, with the then SHO and investigating officer suspended and Circle Officer Nitesh Pratap Singh removed from his post.
