Four Hindu and six Muslim youths convicted for communal murder cases

Four Hindu and six Muslim youths convicted for communal murder cases

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 14, 2024: In separate communal murder cases reported within the Bantwal and Ullal police station jurisdictions in 2015 and 2016, a District and Sessions court in Mangaluru has delivered convictions for four Hindu and six Muslim youths.

The court is scheduled to decide the sentencing for both cases on Tuesday, April 16.

The first Additional District and Sessions Judge, H.S. Mallikarjuna Swamy, found Vijeth Kumar (22), Kiran Poojary (24), Aneesh (23), and Abhi (24) guilty in the murder of Mohammed Nazir in Sajipa Munnuru, Bantwal taluk, on August 6, 2015. They were convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, attempted murder, causing hurt, wrongful restraint, and criminal conspiracy.

In another case, the Judge convicted Mohammed Asif (23), Mohammed Suhail (20), Abdul Mutalif (20), Abdul Aswir (19), Bashit Ali (17), and Abdul Raneez (17) for the murder of Rajesh Kotian (44) on Kotepura Road in Ullal on April 12, 2016. They were found guilty of charges such as murder, unlawful assembly, rioting, promoting disharmony, and destroying evidence.

In the first murder case, the chargesheet filed by former Bantwal Police Inspector K.U. Belliyappa detailed how Mohammed Nazir was attacked while traveling in an autorickshaw driven by Mohammed Mustafah. The assault, carried out with swords by the four accused on motorcycles, resulted in Nazir’s death the following day in a Mangaluru hospital. The incident was reportedly in retaliation to a prior attack on Vijet Kumar and Abhi by a group of Muslims in Kolandu village.

In the second case, as per the chargesheet filed by Ullal police, the six accused were lying in wait near a factory along Kotepura Road to assault a Mogaveera. Rajesh Kotian was attacked around 2:30 a.m. while walking towards Kotepura Jetty and succumbed to his injuries on the spot. The prosecution, led by Ms. Crasta, presented evidence from 28 witnesses and made arguments before the court.