SC convicts 31 in Karamchedu carnage

SC overturns AP HC decision, convicts 31 in Karamchedu carnage

Last Updated: Friday, December 19, 2008, 00:00

  

New Delhi, Dec 19: Overturning an Andhra Pradesh High Court's acquittal decision , the Supreme Court on Friday imposed life imprisonment on the main accused and convicted 30 others in the sensational Karamchedu caste carnage in 1985.

Ironically, the accused stand convicted after a 23-year-long legal battle over the carnage in state's Prakasam district which witnessed some upper caste Hindus hack to death six Harijans and injure 20 others in 1985. 

The incident was sparked off by an argument between the two communities after buffaloes belong to the upper caste took a dip in a drinking water pond used by the the Harijans. 

A bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi imposed life imprisonment on main accused R Anjaiah while convicting 30 others under Section 148 IPC (rioting) which entails a maximum sentence of three years. 

The apex court passed the judgement while upholding an appeal filed by the State Government challenging the clean chit given by the Andhra Pradesh High Court which acquitted all the 50 accused convicted and sentenced to varying terms by the sessions court in Prakasam. 

The pond incident of August 17, 1985 was allegedly a ploy of the influential Kamma community, close to the TDP, to attack the Harijans who had allegedly voted in favour of the Congress in the 1985 Assembly election. 

Late film thespian N T Rama Rao who also belongs to the Kamma community was at that time the chief minister of the state. His son-in-law D Venkateshwar Rao was among those accused of allegedly plotting the massacre. 

Bureau Report