karnataka high court
The Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted bail to the accused in the Markumbi Dalit atrocities case. Following the court order, the 99 people serving sentences in this case will be able to leave prison. The Koppal district court had sentenced him to life imprisonment just last month.
In this case, a total of 101 people were convicted. While handing down the sentence, the court stated that this decision will awaken the feeling of justice in the Dalit community. The court had commented that this incident does not seem normal, hence strict punishment needs to be imposed.
what was the problem
For years there was a dispute between two groups in Markumbi village in Dharwad district of Karnataka. On August 28, 2014, while watching a movie in Gangavati town, a fight broke out between them in the cinema hall. In this case, the main accused Manjunath attacked the Dalit community after a dispute and set many of their huts on fire.
During this time, people were driven from their homes and killed, resulting in 30 people being injured. A witness to the incident was found dead a few days later and police said he had committed suicide.
Dharwad | The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court today granted bail to 99 persons who were sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court in the Koppal district Marakumbi Dalit atrocities case.
Last month, the Koppal district court sentenced 99 people to life imprisonment.
— AIN (@ANI) November 13, 2024
Atrocities against Dalits in the village
According to information, there is a history of discrimination against Dalits in the village. Even Dalits are prohibited from entering the village shops. In 2013, a Dalit youth was tied to a pillar and beaten in public. According to the villagers, the police had not taken any action in this regard. Dalits say that when they file complaints with the police, people from other communities boycott them.
