20 sentenced to life for murder of 3 Dalits

MYSORE - Twenty people were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here Thursday for killing three Dalits 17 years ago during a clash over allowing members of the Dalit community to enter a village temple.

Additional Sessions Special Judge L.F. Malavalli also ordered the 20 to pay a fine of Rs.15,000 each.

The court further directed the government to pay compensation of Rs.50,000 to the families of each of the three victims.

The clash took place March 25, 1993 at Badanwal village, about 40 km from here, over entry of Dalits in the local temple. Three Dalit men were killed in the fray.

Police filed cases against 23 people, three of whom died during the trial.

The judge had Oct 28 held the 20 guilty, and reserved punishment for Thursday. All the 20 were present in the court to hear the sentence.

The police had stepped up vigilance in Badanwal ahead of the verdict. “The village is peaceful,” a Mysore district police spokesperson said.