HC commutes death for 6 to life
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced that it would challenge the Bombay high court’s verdict in the Khairlanji killings in the Supreme Court and push for capital punishment for six convicts.
Health minister Suresh Shetty made the announcement in the legislative council following demands from legislators across the parties.
A division bench comprising Justices A.P. Lawande and R.C. Chauhan of the Nagpur bench of the HC on Wednesday altered the death sentence of six convicts in the Khairlanji dalit killings case to 25 years of imprisonment. NCP MLC Ram Pandagale raised the issue in the legislative council through a point of information. He said that the HC verdict has caused an injustice against the dalit community and demanded that the state should press for capital punishment.
Mr Pandagale was supported by the Shiv Sena’s Mr Ramdas Kadam and the BJP’s Mr Vinod Tawade. Mr Kadam said that the horrific incident in Khairlanji where the dalit Bhotmange family was attacked had resulted in widespread protests by dalits all over the state.
“The government should immediately take a stand on the case so that people do not have to take to the streets again,” Mr Kadam warned. Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Harshwardhan Patil told the house that chief minister Ashok Chavan, deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and home minister R.R. Patil were in New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister over the Karnataka border issue.
“I will convey the feelings of the house to the CM and he will announce the government’s stand that will respect feelings expressed in the House,” he said.
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