In a landmark judgement after ten years, 98 people belonging to privileged castes have been imprisoned to life for attack on Dalits. Three belonging to underprivileged caste have also been found guilty.
Published Oct 25, 2024 | 9:14 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 25, 2024 | 9:14 PM
98 privileged caste members imprisoned for life (Image supplied)
In a historic judgement, Koppal District and Sessions Court awarded life sentences to 98 people belonging to privileged castes over an attack on Dalits in Marakumbi village.
The ruling on Thursday, 24 October comes over a decade after an attack on at least 55 families belonging to the oppressed caste. The court convicted 101 people in total including three people from the oppressed caste in connection with the assault on Dalits that took place on 28, August 2014.
In August 2014, at least 55 Dalit families were brutally attacked, with several homes set on fire by members of the privileged castes.
In the case registered at Gangavathi Rural Police Station ten years ago, District Session Court judge C Chandra Sekhar sentenced all the 98 privileged caste members to life imprisonment and fined ₹5,000 each under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Three others, who belonged to the underprivileged caste, have been sentenced for five years in prison and a penalty of ₹5,000. Since they belong to the Scheduled Caste, they couldn’t be booked under the SC/ST Atrocities act.
The trio have been convicted under section 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy house) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. All the convicted are between the age group of 20 and 60 years.
As per the charge sheet, a total of 117 people were accused in the atrocity case registered at Gangavathi Rural Police Station on 29 August, 2014. Of them, 16 died due to health and age-related ailments over the last decade.
All the accused, who were out on bail until the court’s ruling, have now been arrested and imprisoned at Ballari Central Prison.
In 2014, communal tension erupted between people from the privileged and underprivileged castes in Marakumbi village near Gangavathi Taluka over discriminatory practises.
Youth belonging to the oppressed caste protested the discriminatory practices in local hotels and saloons, which is a violation of their fundamental right. Despite several complaints to concerned authorities, the privileged caste resisted change.
The situation escalated after a scuffle over movie tickets in a theatre in Gangavathi. People from the privileged caste believed that the attack on them by unknown miscreants was on the behest of Dalits.
Furious over it, they attacked the Dalit families and their properties on 28 August, 2014. This widened the gap between both castes with business and communication between them severed for two years.
Recalling the incident, one of the people attacked, Basavaraj Doddamani told South First: “The tussle between the privileged and oppressed castes began when some Dalit youths demanded to end the disparity being meted out to them in hotels and saloons located in the village.”
He described the discriminatory practises followed then: “Food, water and tea used to be served in separate plates and glasses in hotels. Only people from the privileged caste were allowed in saloons and we had to depend on ones at nearby towns.”
Youngsters condemned and objected this centuries old practise. However, “Despite multiple requests, privileged caste people did not budge, compelling us to file a complaint to the police. Based on the complaint, cops held peace meeting and directed them not to continue such practices.”
Though people agreed to it, the actual fight began when a group of youths from both castes went to watch late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s movie, Power.
When people from the privileged caste were assaulted, they believed that it was “Orchestrated by Dalits. They, along with few from oppressed castes like Bhovi and Valmiki, attacked our dwelling (where Madigas reside) and set fire to a few houses.”
Alerted about the assault on Madigas, police and other officials including Koppal’s Superintendent of Police rushed arrived at the scene.
“They directed us to file a complaint. On the SP’s instructions, we filed a police complaint before the Gangavathi Rural Police Station on 29 August, 2014,” recalls Basavaraj, who was also attacked.
He said that there were around 55 families in Madigara Kere and around 300 families in other localities, where the privileged caste people resided.
“After the attack, police arrested around 60 people on the same day. The remaining were arrested as the investigation progressed. Following that, people from privileged castes closed all shops including saloon for two years and stopped communication with Dalits,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the court and police officials for ensuring justice even after a decade.
One of the convicts from the underprivileged castes, a 30-year-old named Ramana Bhovi, died a day after he was sentenced.
On Friday, 25 October, Marakumbi village resident passed away due to health issues.
The court had convicted Ramanna to five years in prison and a penalty of ₹5,000 in the case. He was barely 20 years when the violence took place. His family members claimed that he died after learning that he had been convicted.
(Edited by Neena)
