Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 7: In a verdict delivered on Monday March 6, the third additional district and sessions court here sentenced Imthiyaz (31) from Ullal Azad Nagar, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment after holding him guilty of committing offences stated in the charge sheet filed against him.
The murderous attack by the accused was connected with the dispute over offering of prayers at mosques near Ullal, one near dargah and the other, Hosapalli at Ullal Melangady that was newly built. After dispute arose over offering of prayers at the mosque near the Ullal dargah, a group had decided to offer prayers at the Hosapalli at Ullal Melangady. In tune with this decision, a group led by the Qazi here, of which Savaad Abdul (32) from Malangady and Samshuddin from Ullal Alekala were members, had visited the Hosapalli at around 12.20 pm on October 18, 2013 to offer prayers at the new mosque for the first time.
At this time, a crowd of 8 including Imthiyaz, which opposed the said move, illegally entered Hosapalli mosque and tried to murder certain people. They had left Savaad Abdul and Samshuddin seriously injured by stabbing them. Both of them were admitted into hospital and had recovered in due course. The then Ullal sub-inspector, Ramesh H Hanapur, had registered the case and filed charge sheet in the court.
File photo of the incident
Judge of the court, S H Pushpanjali Devi, who conducted the hearing and examined witnesses, which included Dr Mahabala Shetty who treated the injured and forensic science laboratory expert, Dr Geethalaxmi, concluded that the accused were guilty of the charges.
The guilty was given 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for inflicting serious injury and murder attempt, apart from imposing a fine of Rs 10,000. In case of failure to pay fine, he has been ordered to undergo an additional year of imprisonment. Out of the fine amount, Rs 5,000 each has to be paid to the injured, it said. The court which said that the injured are eligible to get additional compensation from district legal services authority, acquitted eight other accused.
Public prosecutor, Narayana Sherigar, had argued the case on behalf of the prosecution.