35 accused in Dalits killings discharged by court

Thirty-five accused in the case related to the killing of four Dalits at Khairlanji village in Bhandara district were on Thursday discharged by a court her after it admitted a Central Bureau of Investigation application in this regard.

The CBI had moved the discharge application on February 12 and the court had fixed its hearing for Thursday.

The 35 accused include then police sub-inspector Siddheshwar Bharne, the police station officer of Andhalgaon who was responsible for the area where the killings occurred.

Judge S S Das of the special court, however, did not decide on the fate of 11 others who are in judicial custody.

Forty-six persons were arrested in connection with the killing of four members of the Bhotmange family, including the children Priyanka, Sudhir and Roshan, on September 29, 2006.