In a significant verdict, the Additional District Sessions Judge HS Mallikarjuna Swamy, on Tuesday, handed down life imprisonment to four individuals convicted in connection with a communal murder case. The convicted individuals are Vijeth Kumar (22, from Manchi), Kiran Poojary (24, from Badaga Ulipady), Anish alias Dhanu (23, from Tiruvail), and Abhi alias Abhijith (24, from Manchi). They were found guilty of the murder of Mohammed Naseer alias Naseer.
Judicial Decision and Penalties
Public prosecutor Judith OM Crasta informed that the court sentenced the four accused under IPC section 302 to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each. Additionally, for the offenses committed under IPC Section 307, they were sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 each. For the offenses under IPC Section 341, they will serve one month of simple imprisonment, and for those under IPC Section 324, they must serve one year of imprisonment.
Out of the total fine amount, Rs 1.2 lakh will be awarded to the victim’s wife, Rahmath alias Ramlath. The District Legal Services Authority has been instructed to provide compensation to the victim’s wife.
Incident Details
The tragic incident occurred on Aug 6, 2015, when autorickshaw driver Mohammed Musthafa was transporting Mohammed Naseer to his wife’s house from Melkar to Mudipu. The accused identified the victims as belonging to the Muslim community when inquiring about the road leading to Bollayi. Subsequently, when the autorickshaw reached Kolake in Sanjipa Muda, the accused, riding motorcycles, intercepted the autorickshaw under the guise of seeking directions.
Accused Vijeth Kumar assaulted Mustafa with a talwar, while Kiran Kumar attacked Naseer with a talwar. Although the injured were promptly taken to the hospital, Naseer succumbed to his injuries on Aug 7. The accused also attempted to conceal evidence by discarding blood-stained clothes into the Netravathi River at Panemangaluru.
