Belagavi: High Court may impose fine on villagers for being mute spectators to woman's assault

The Karnataka High Court is considering levying a fine on the villagers who did not intervene in the horrific assault of a woman in Belagavi that has shaken the conscience of an entire nation. Around 60 villagers are said to have been witnesses to the cruelty unfolding. “All the villages now have gram panchayats, let the Panchayat collect some tax from villagers because they were mute spectators to the incident. During Lord William Bentinck's [Former Governor-General of India] period the same thing took place. The entire village was made to pay when there was a crime. Mere participation of state instrumentality is not sufficient, but the message has to go. All village people should be made responsible. Those who serve lip service are not good for us. there is a counter-argument that if I have not done anything why punish me. But being a mute spectator..somebody could have tried to stop that,” The High Court Bench consisting of Justice Krishna S.Dixit and Prasanna.B.Varale stated. 

Advocate General K.Shashi Kiran Shetty appearing on behalf of the Karnataka Government stated that Rs 5 lakh has been provided as compensation to the family apart from Rs 2 lakh as interim measure.