Bantwal: These are the days when it is common to find citizens fearing to be witnesses in the event of mishaps, murders and other crimes.
Many a time, after a few hearings the witnesses tend to turn hostile, either by being lured or out of disgust with running around. But in a rare case of solidarity, some villagers of Baltila boldly came forward and testified in court and ensured justice was given to a slain woman.
On Feb 25, 2013, Sowmya (22), daughter of Seetaram of Korya, while walking alone towards her home, was waylaid b one Satish near Kashekodi. He tried to sexually abuse but since she resisted he had murdered her.
On Feb 26, he was arrested by the Bantwal town police and subsequently filed a chargesheet against him. In the district sessions court, additional judge S H Pushpanjali heard the case and pronounced rigorous life imprisonment for his crime. During the trial, 15 persons willingly came forward to be witnesses.
On Sunday, Feb 8, some prominent leaders from the taluk organized a function to honour these courageous witnesses whose evidence ensure punishment to the accused. Anganwadi worker Lucy Sequeira, assistant Devakiamma, other local residents Monappa Poojary, Vidya, Vidyaranya Kashekodi, Mohan P S, Arun Poojary, Chandrashekhar Shetty, Sadashiva Nayak, Krishnappa Poojary Kalladka, Krishnappa Poojary Baltila, Guruprasad, Dinesh Nayak, Anand Poojary and Nagaraj Acharya were honoured in public.
Former MLA A Rukmaya Poojary who presided over the function said that such persons should be recognized and rewarded by the government, the police and local administrations. They were honoured by entrepreneur Rajesh Nayak Ulipadiguttu of Oddoor Farms.
Those who were present, among others, included Baltila gram panchayat president Sundar Salian, vice president B K Annu Poojary, Krishnappa Poojary Tota and others.
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