Excise Minister RB Timmapur on Tuesday made a significant visit to Inam Veerapur village in Hubballi taluk, meeting with the family of Vivekanand Doddamani, who were brutally assaulted in a shocking case linked to an inter-caste marriage. The minister's visit and subsequent high-level meeting underscored the government's response to the tragic incident that resulted in the death of a young pregnant woman.
Minister's Visit and Directives for Justice
Minister Timmapur personally visited the Doddamani family at their home in Inam Veerapur village. He also met with Renavva, Vivekanand Doddamani's mother, who is currently recovering at a private hospital in Hubballi. The minister was accompanied by a team of senior officials including Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu GRJ, Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhuvanesh Patil, Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya, Madar Chennayya Swamiji, and other government officials.
Following the visit, the minister chaired a crucial review meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Dharwad. He directed the police and district administration to take all necessary steps to ensure peace and harmony in the village. He explicitly instructed that all individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR) must be arrested promptly. Terming the assault as "inhuman," Timmapur stated that such mindsets were eroding the social fabric and demanded severe punishment for the perpetrators. He also emphasized extending all necessary cooperation to government prosecutors handling the case.
Details of the Tragic Incident and Official Response
The case revolves around the tragic death of 20-year-old pregnant woman Manya Patil, who recently succumbed to injuries after being assaulted by her father and others. The assault was reportedly triggered by her marriage to a Dalit man, Vivekanand Doddamani, in the village. In the same incident on December 21, Manya's husband and his family members were also allegedly attacked.
During the meeting, the minister reviewed the details of the assault and murder case. He noted that while the revenue and social welfare departments had performed their duties, the collective response should have been quicker. He pointed out that the tragedy might have been prevented with timely intelligence inputs. Consequently, the deputy commissioner has ordered an inquiry into the post-incident actions taken by various departments and their adherence to rules, with instructions for a transparent report.
Compensation, Rehabilitation, and Measures for Peace
Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu provided a detailed update on the actions taken so far. She confirmed that the demands of the Doddamani family had been addressed at the district level, with proposals for certain other demands being submitted to the state government. The family has been rehabilitated in their house.
A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has already been disbursed to the affected family. Adequate police deployment, medical treatment, and counselling have been arranged. A peace meeting has been held in the village, where villagers assured the administration of maintaining peace and harmony. Preventive surveillance is being maintained in the village and among the concerned families.
The meeting was attended by key officials including District SP Gunjan Arya, Joint Director of Social Welfare Department Shubha P, Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar, Hubballi Rural Tahsildar JB Majjagi, Police Inspector Murugesh Channannavar, Assistant Director Priyadarshini Hiremath, and investigating officer DySP Sandeep Singh Murgod.
