Wrong to give issue a caste colour, says Ujjwal Nikam

Mumbai: In the wake of a sessions court in Nashik convicting six accused in the 2013 Sonai honour killing case, defence lawyer Avinash Bhide, who represented the men in question, said they would appeal against the verdict after getting the judgment’s copy. a

Meanwhile, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said that there were no eyewitnesses, and the case was dependent upon circumstantial evidence. “But we had produced all proofs before the court, and court has held the accused guilty,” Mr Nikam said.

He added, “The two other persons were killed as they were witness to the crime. The significant issue is that a dalit boy was in love with a ‘suvarna’ (upper caste) girl and they were going for an inter-caste marriage. So the girl’s family conspired the murder. Sachin’s body was chopped into pieces. We also told the court that there was no evidence against (Ashok) Phalke, who was acquitted.”

Mr Nikam told The Asian Age that it is wrong to give any caste colour to the offence or the issue.

“Conviction basically depends upon the police investigation and proof,” he said.

Human rights lawyer Ranjana Pagar-Gawande, on the other hand, said that it was a serious inter-caste issue.  “We are creating awareness among the people on the dangers of casteism. The punishment for such cases will send a good message to perpetrators,” she said.