Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 24: The district chief sessions court here awarded life term rigorous imprisonment (RI) to a student from Beltangady for murdering his neighbour with a sickle after a dispute arose between the two over the dogs and cats cared for by the accused defecating in the compound of the victim.

The accused, found guilty through a judgment delivered on Monday October 22, happens to be Chandrashekhar (22) from Allatabail, Santhekatte in Beltangady. The quantum of sentence was pronounced by the judge on Tuesday. The murder had taken place 18 months back.

Judge of the court, Kadlur Satyanarayanacharya, in coming to the conclusion that the accused was guilty, corroborated evidence provided by eyewitnesses and scientific evidences. Chandrashekhar was given life term rigorous imprisonment under section 302 of Indian Penal Code apart from imposing a fine of Rs 10,000. In case of failure to pay fine, the guilty will have to undergo simple imprisonment of six months. Five years imprisonment was imposed under section 506 of Indian Penal Code for posing death threats to the members of Thimmappa Poojary's family, in addition to a fine of Rs 5,000. Failure to pay fine will attract three more months of simple imprisonment, the judge stated. The court also said that wife of Thimmappa and her children are eligible to seek compensation from the district legal services authority.

Thimmappa Poojary, a BSNL lineman, lived in a rented home at Allatabail, Santhekatte in Beltangady, adjacent to another rented house occupied by Chandrashekhar, a first year BBM degree course student of SDM College Ujire. Chandrashekhar was fond of looking after street dogs and cats, which often went to the premises of Thimmappa Poojary to relieve themselves. On this issue, the two often fought. On the evening of June 2, 2017, Thimmappa, who had ventured out of the house to buy ice cream for his children, was stopped by Chandrashekhar and hit in his face, head, neck, and limbs with a sickle, thus causing his instant death. When Poojary's wife, Champavathi and two small children along with neighbours came there, he waved his sickle menacingly and posed death threats, it is said.

The murder case was registered in Beltangady town police station. The then circle inspectors, Krishnaiah and Nagesh K, investigated the case and filed chargesheet. The prosecution was represented in the case by public prosecutor, Kudriya Pushparaj Adyanthaya.