Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network – Bhatkal (EP)

Bhatkal, Sep 27: Bhatkal JMFC court on Wednesday September 27 convicted eight men accused of hurling stones on Hebale Hescom (Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited) department building, damaging the office furniture and assaulting staff in the office following the death of a girl due to electric shock in 2013.

The court pronounced Irfan, Zia, Sarfaraz, Sarfan, Rehman and Ismail, Noorulla and Ali, residents of Bendekan and Moosanagar, guilty and sentenced them to six years of rigorous imprisonment.

Each of them has to pay Rs 29,000, totaling Rs 2,32,000 as fine. The court ordered that Rs 1,39,000 out of the total fine be paid to the staff members who were assaulted. The remaining sum will have to be paid to the government.

Indira Naik was the public prosecutor in the case. District police superintendent Vinayak Patil congratulated Bhatkal police officials and advocate Indira Naik who investigated the case and made sure that the accused were punished.

An electric live cable had fallen on Hebale Jamiabad road on September 25, 2013 due to thunder storm. Nazima (18), daughter of Dr Abdul Jabbar Anooti who was walking on that road at 8 pm was electrocuted as electricity had passed in flowing water. The locals who got angry, accused Hescom at Hebale for the incident and threw stones at the building, broke chairs, tables and other furniture in the office besides beating the staff with chairs and stones, causing grievous injuries.

The convicts had also threatened people who came to the rescue of the staff. The then PSI Manjunath conducted detailed investigations and submitted a charge sheet against the eight.