BENGALURU/BELAGAVI: In a verdict that brought closure to one of Karnataka’s most shocking crimes in recent years, a Belagavi court Wednesday sentenced 12 convicts, including 6 women, to rigorous imprisonment for five years in the Hosavantamuri stripping and assault case that triggered statewide outrage in Dec 2023.A day after holding all the accused guilty under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the additional 10th district and sessions court, presided over by Judge HS Manjunath, pronounced the sentence and imposed fines on all the convicts. The crime occurred on Dec 11, 2023, at Hosavantamuri village in Belagavi taluk, about 10 km from Belagavi city. The victim, who also lodged the complaint and belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community, was allegedly dragged out of her house, stripped and paraded through the village, tied to an electric pole and assaulted in full public view after her son eloped with a girl who was engaged to another man. Angered by the incident, the girl’s family barged into her home, damaged property, hurled stones, and forcibly dragged her outside, where she was subjected to severe humiliation and assault.Police alerted to the incident, rushed to the spot and rescued her.Those sentenced are Basappa Naik, 45, Raju Naik, 52, Kempanna Naik, 52, Parvati Naik, 37, Yallavva Naik, 67, Lakkappa Naik, 26, Gangavva Naik, 62, Sangeeta Hegganayak, 35, Santosh Naik, 21, Shobha Naik, 49, Lakkavva Naik, 42, and Shivappa Vannur, 53, all residents of the village.The incident sparked outrage, prompting Karnataka high court to take suo motu cognizance and direct trial in a fast track court. The state govt subsequently handed over the investigation to the CID.During the probe, the CID arrested 13 accused, of whom 12 were convicted, the remaining one was found to be a minor. The CID completed the investigation and filed the chargesheet on April 22, 2024, within 133 days, citing 92 witnesses and producing 37 material exhibits. Following the incident, the state govt announced ₹5.5 lakh compensation and 2 acres of land for the victim’s family. Fact-finding teams from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) visited the village, while the BJP constituted a 5-member committee of MPs to probe the matter.In April 2024, the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka high court granted conditional bail to the accused. The bail order triggered controversy after videos showing a celebratory welcome for prime accused Basappa Naik outside Hindalga Central Jail went viral.Stating that the conviction had sent out a strong message, director-general & inspector-general of police MA Saleem said, “Such inhuman incidents are not tolerated in a civilised society, and this is indeed a strong message.”The investigation was led by SP Pruthvik Shankar, assisted by DSP Anjumala and inspector Narayani, under the supervision of senior CID officials. Special public prosecutor LS Sulled represented the state.Fast Track TrialWoman dragged out of her home, stripped and paraded in Hosavantamuri villageSon’s elopement with an already engaged girl triggered the assaultPolice rescued the victim after an alert from villagersKarnataka HC took suo motu cognizance and directed trial in a fast-track courtOf the 13 accused one was a minor
