Accused Convicted in Caste-Based Assault Case in Srikakulam

Visakhapatnam: The special court for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes has sentenced N. Mukunda Reddy to three years of imprisonment for a caste-based assault that occurred in April 2022. The judgment was given by SC/ST Court Judge Justice S.M. Phanikumar, sentencing Mukunda Reddy under Section 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to three years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000. An additional six-month sentence was imposed under Section 337 read with Section 3(2)(va) of the same Act, with a fine of Rs 500.

The incident took place in Narsapuram village, within the jurisdiction of Santabommali police station in Srikakulam district.

According to court documents, on April 19, 2022, the complainant was travelling on CC Road after accompanying local MLC Duvvada Srinivasa Rao to Modi Bhaskara Rao’s residence.

Around 7:30 pm, Mukunda Reddy allegedly approached the complainant on a Pulsar motorcycle at high speed, without using the horn. He reportedly punched the complainant on the left hand and confronted him about driving slowly. The situation escalated when local villagers allegedly used caste and physically assaulted the complainant by striking him on the left cheek.

The then station house officer, Govinda, registered a case and the subsequent investigation was handled by SDPO Kasibugga Siva Ramireddy.

Special public prosecutor V. Raghuram argued the case effectively, leading to the conviction.