Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 29: The fourth additional district and sessions court here has sentenced an accused relating to a murder which happened on April 3, 2016 at Baje in Koyyur village, Beltangady taluk, to life imprisonment. A fine of Rs 15,000 has also been imposed on him. The court delivered its judgement in the case on Wednesday March 28.

Padmanabha Poojary (53), who was employed by Balakrishna Poojary from Baje for doing household and other jobs, was stabbed to death with a knife by Sanjeeva Poojary (47) from Baje.

Sanjeeva Poojary and Balakrishna Poojary, who lived in the same neighbourhood, had long-standing dispute over land and right of way. The two were often involved in minor skirmishes on these issues. It is said that Sanjeeva Poojary had often confronted Padmanabha Poojary on this issue and had objected to his walking through the land belonging to the former.

When Padmanabha Poojary was walking on the main road at Baje at 8.30 pm on April 3, 2016, accused Sanjeeva Poojary stabbed him on his neck and left hand repeatedly from behind. Padmanabha Poojary, who sustained grievous injuries, had died on the spot.

The then Beltangady police inspector, B R Lingaiah, had arrested the accused the very next day and conducted investigation. Inspector Nemiraj, who succeeded Lingaiah, filed charge sheet in court.

Judge of fourth district and sessions court, Nerale Veerabhadrayya Bhavani, arrived at the conclusion that the charges levelled against the accused have been proved. Statements of 16 of the witnesses were recorded during the hearing of the case, with some of them as eyewitnesses.

Out of the fine of Rs 15,000 now announced, the court has ordered Rs 10,000 to be paid to the wife of Padmanabha Poojary by way of compensation. The judge has also asked the family to approach legal services authority to obtain additional compensation. Harishchandra Udyavar had appeared in this case on behalf of the prosecution.