In historic verdict, Karnataka Court sentences 98 to life for torching Dalit dwellings in 2014 Marakumbi caste atrocity case

In a landmark judgment, a district court in Karnataka convicted 101 persons in the decade-old Marakumbi caste atrocity case and sentenced 98 persons to life for torching the huts of Dalits. The court also imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 on each of the accused.

Pronouncing the verdict on Thursday, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Koppal sentenced the 98 persons from privileged caste to life imprisonment. The court also sentenced three persons from the ST community to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000. 

The case pertains to caste-based violence against the Madiga community in Marakumbi village in Gangavathi Taluk in 2014. Apparently, the clash broke out following a scuffle between a few youths from the privileged caste and Dalits at a movie theatre. Manjunath, the prime accused in the case engaged in a brawl with a few unidentified persons at the theatre in Gangavathi. The Dalits were also allegedly denied entry into barber shops and eateries. 

Assuming the youths were from the Dalit colony in Marakumbi village, Manjunath instigated other members of his caste. The mob attacked their huts and torched them the next day, police said. Though there were 117 accused in the case, 16 died during the course of the trial.