Mahendra Kumar, 24 others acquitted

CHIKMAGALUR: The Additional District Sessions Court on Wednesday acquitted all the 25 accused, including then Bajrang Dal state president Mahendra Kumar and VHP leader Khandya Praveen, in the 2008 Singatagere church attack case. Police had registered a case against Mahendra Kumar and others on September 14, 2008, in connection with the Hindu activists’ attack on one Kaleshappa’s house where forced conversions were allegedly taking place. After hearing defendant’s and respondent lawyers arguments, the court passed the acquittal orders as 11 witnesses failed to produce substantial evidences. The series of attacks on churches happened in Mangalore and Chikmagalur in 2008, barely two months after BS Yeddyurappa took charge as chief minister. The Singatagere episode was one among them.  The government appointed Justice Somashekar Panel to probe the incident and the commission in its report submitted to the government had held Mahendra Kumar directly responsible for the attacks. Mahendra Kumar was imprisoned for 42 days. Reacting to the judgment, Kumar said that it was a victory for justice and hoped that he would come out clean in the other four cases under trial in various courts.