Mangaluru: The release of man who killed four persons of a family, has been opposed by the victims’ family members. The convict named Praveen Kumar has been chosen to be released as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
He had committed the murders in 1994.
It is learnt that the District Superintendent of Police has been instructed to seek the opinion of his relatives regarding his release. The victim’s family, however, has opposed the move and has decided to appeal to the Government through the State Director General of Police to not release Praveen for any reason.
Praveen Kumar, hailing from Periadka, Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada District, had murdered his aunt (father’s sister) Appi Sherigarthi, her son Govinda, daughter Shakuntala and Shakuntala’s daughter Deepika in Vamanjoor on February 23, 1994. This case had created a big sensation in the country then.
Allegations against Praveen were proved from the lower court to the Supreme Court. In 2003, the Supreme Court sentenced him to death. Praveen, who complained about this, appealed to the President for mercy, which remained pending for 10 years. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court upheld the order canceling the death sentence of the three convicted of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Based on this, Praveen approached the Supreme Court again, which later changed the death sentence to life imprisonment.
Praveen is currently lodged at the Hindalaga Jail in Belagavi. It is said that the District SP’s Office has been ordered by the State Prisons and Correctional Department on June 23 to collect an opinion report on the early release of Praveen.
On behalf of the victim’s family, Sitharama of Gurupura expressed his concerns and objection. Praveen who brutally murdered his kin for money is a danger to society with his family too being worried about his release. Releasing such a person is an insult to the Amrit Mahotsav of the Independence Day, said Sitharama.
