Historic Ruling in Koppal: 101 Found Guilty Under SC/ST Atrocities Act

In a significant legal outcome, a Koppal district and sessions court has found 101 individuals guilty under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, stemming from a violent clash in Marakumbi village nearly ten years ago. The court is set to announce the punishment on October 24.

The incident dates back to August 28, 2014, when Manjunath, a local resident, reported being assaulted after a visit to a cinema. He alleged that Dalits from the village attacked him, leading to retaliatory violence from upper caste groups. This resulted in the destruction of property, including a hotel, a barber shop, and four huts belonging to Dalit families, though fortunately, there were no fatalities.

Out of 117 accused, 101 were convicted, while some had passed away during the trial. Following the verdict, the 100 present were remanded to judicial custody. Public Prosecutor Aparna described the ruling as historic, noting that it reflects a rare instance of accountability for crimes related to untouchability. She emphasized the need for societal harmony and hopes this case sets a precedent for reducing such crimes.

Basavaraju, a Dalit resident, expressed cautious optimism, stating that while harmony has returned to the village over the past two years, the community must respect the court’s decision and learn from the incident to prevent future violence.

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