Gujarat Court Delivers Verdict in 2016 Una Flogging Case
A special atrocity court in Veraval town, Gir Somnath district, Gujarat, has delivered its verdict in the highly publicized 2016 Una flogging case. The court convicted five of the 41 individuals who faced trial, while acquitting the remaining 36 accused. The decision on sentencing has been reserved and is expected to be announced on Tuesday.
Details of the Conviction and Legal Proceedings
District government pleader Ketansinh Vala confirmed to The Times of India that special atrocity court judge J J Pandya convicted the five accused. One accused died during the trial, leading to the abatement of the case against him. Vala stated, "The hearing on sentencing is complete, and the court is expected to deliver the sentences on Tuesday."
The convicted individuals are Ramesh Bhagvan Jadav, Rakesh Rasik Joshi, Nagji Daya Vaniya, Pramodgiri Rameshgiri Gauswami, and Balvantgiri Gauswami. They were found guilty under Sections 323, 324, 342, and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as Sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(e)(r)(s)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Background of the 2016 Una Incident
The case stems from a horrific incident on July 11, 2016, in Una, Gujarat. The prosecution submitted that Vashram Sarvaiya, his three brothers, and their parents were assaulted while skinning a dead cow, which was their traditional occupation. Members of an upper-caste group falsely accused them of slaughtering the animal.
- Four of the victims were stripped, tied to a car, and paraded through the town while being brutally flogged.
- The attackers recorded videos of the assault and circulated them on social media, sparking nationwide outrage.
- Following the incident, the Sarvaiya family renounced Hinduism and embraced Buddhism as a response to the trauma.
The FIR was initially registered at Una police station under Section 307 of the IPC and the Atrocities Act. The investigation was later transferred to the CID Crime in Gandhinagar, which filed a chargesheet in 2018.
Reactions to the Verdict and Dissatisfaction
Vashram Sarvaiya, the complainant in the case, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the court's verdict. He stated, "Considering the manner in which we struggled for justice and what we suffered over the last 10 years, we are not satisfied with this conviction. The people who terrorized us were acquitted because the prosecution failed to prove their role."
This verdict marks a significant but contentious milestone in a case that highlighted severe caste-based violence in India. The upcoming sentencing on Tuesday will be closely watched by activists and legal observers across the country.
