Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Oct 25: A couple who were facing charges of caste abuse and assault on a woman, have since been acquitted by the II Additional District & Sessions Court at Mangaluru.

Allegedly, the complainant and accused were neighbours at Odilnala Village of Beltangady Taluk. On May 23, 2013, at about 5'o clock, the complainant, Saroja, was rolling beedis in her courtyard, when her children had gone to the courtyard of her neighbour.

At this point, her neighbour, Harinakshi, is said to have abused the children of the complainant, duly making references to the caste to which they belong, and by making caste related comments. The complainant concerned took her children home. At that time, Ramesh Poojary, husband of Harinakshi, all of a sudden forced himself into the house of the complainant; and scolded her in abusive language. It is said that he also pulled at her hair, dragged her out of her house into the courtyard. There, it is said that he hit her with a stick; pushed her down to the ground and by picking the bricks lying on the road, threw them at the back of the complainant, as a result of which the complainant had sustained injuries and was hospitalized. After investigation the deputy superintendent of police of Bantwal Subdivision had filed charge sheet against the couple for the offences punishable under sections 448, 504, 323, 324 and 354 read with section 34 of IPC and Section 3 (1) (x) (xi) of SC/ST (PA) Act, 1989.

As many as 14 witnesses were examined in the case Judge of the special court B R Pallavi, when acquitting the couple from all charges, held that the evidences provided by the witnesses are inconsistent and full of contradictions and therefore, prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Advocate Kishore D'Silva and Saira Lobo argued the case on behalf of the accursed.