A day after awarding five years of imprisonment to a man after convicting him under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989, the Principal District Court convicted a former village panchayat president and awarded him five years imprisonment under the same charges.
Passing orders on the six-year-old case, Principal District Judge A. Kayalvizhi convicted V. Palanisamy (56) under section 355 (assaulting a person with an intent to dishonour) of Indian Penal Code, read with section 3 (1) (X) of SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act.
The judge awarded two years imprisonment and imposed fine of ₹2,000 for offences under section 355 of IPC and five years imprisonment and fine of ₹30,000 for offences under SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. She directed that the accused should undergo the sentences concurrently.
The prosecution case was that the accused who was president of the Pagaivendri village panchayat near Paramakudi abused G. Thirumurugan (34), a dalit, by calling his caste name and assaulted him with footwear for seeking election as vice-president.
The incident took place on October 29, 2011 when the victim visited the office, the prosecution said.
On a complaint preferred by the victim, the Paramakudi taluk police registered a case and filed the charge sheet. The prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, the judge said.
The accused was present in the court when the judge pronounced the order. He was arrested and lodged in jail, police said.
