Advertisement
In a landmark judgment, a court in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced 15 individuals to life imprisonment in a case dating back 23 years, involving violent atrocities against members of the Dalit community. The verdict, delivered on Wednesday by Additional District and Sessions Judge Manoj Kumar Mishra under the SC/ST Act, also imposed a fine of ₹73,000 on each convict.
The case, originating on January 23, 2001, unfolded in Datia village under the Highway police station area. Construction work by some upper-caste individuals on panchayat land led to a conflict with Dalit community members who opposed the construction, as explained by Special Public Prosecutor Suresh Prasad Sharma.
The complaint filed in connection with the incident detailed a brutal assault by the upper-caste group, involving physical assault, gunfire, and arson. Tragically, in the course of the violence, a six-month-old Dalit girl lost her life as she was burnt alive in a hut, and a man sustained gunshot wounds.
An FIR was registered against 16 initially accused individuals based on the complaint, and during the investigation, eight more names surfaced. While nine of the accused passed away during the trial, the remaining 15 were found guilty by the court, leading to the historic sentencing.
The court’s decision not only provides justice for the victims after more than two decades but also sends a strong message about the accountability of perpetrators in cases of caste-based violence.
