Belagavi, February 4: A local court in Belagavi district, Karnataka, convicted 12 individuals in a case involving the assault of a Dalit woman. The incident occurred on December 10, 2023, when a 42-year-old woman was dragged from her home, stripped, and paraded in the village.
Following the assault, she was tied to an electric pole and beaten, allegedly because her son had eloped with a girl from the village. The girl’s family is accused of orchestrating the violence against the woman.
The Karnataka High Court criticized the state government for the police department’s failure to prevent the incident. Judge H.S. Manjunath of the 10th Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced all 12 defendants to five years of rigorous imprisonment. Each was found guilty under 12 different charges, with a fine of ₹1,000 imposed for each count.
The convicted individuals were identified as Basappa Nayaka, Raju Nayaka, Kemppanna Nayaka, Parvati Nayaka, Yellavva Nayaka, Lakkappa Nayaka, Gangavva, Sangeeta Heganayaka, Santosh Nayaka, Shobha Nayaka, Lakkavva Nayaka, and Shivappa Vannur.
Following the verdict, family members of the convicted gathered in large numbers, visibly emotional and crying. The defendants also broke down in tears inside the courtroom.
This incident has become a significant embarrassment for the ruling Congress-led government, as it occurred during the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly in Belagavi.
A division bench of the Karnataka High Court, led by then Chief Justice P.B. Varale and Justice Krishna S. Dixit, expressed strong discontent, stating, “Imagine the fear in other women. They will feel unsafe in the country. Such incidents did not even occur in the Mahabharata. Draupadi had Lord Krishna to help her, but in the modern world, no one came to assist this woman. Unfortunately, we live in a world of Duryodhanas and Dushasanas.”
The High Court took suo motu cognizance of the case and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). It was found that while some villagers attempted to intervene, most remained silent witnesses to the atrocities. Subsequently, the Karnataka Police honored those officers and locals who bravely tried to prevent the Dalit woman’s humiliation in Vantamuri village.
PSI Manjunath Hulakunda and five other police officers were also recognized for their prompt response and action at the scene. The state government has also granted the victim two acres of land as compensation.
