The Belagavi Additional 10th District and Sessions Court sentenced 12 accused to five years of rigorous imprisonment. The accused were found guilty of assaulting and partially disrobing a 42-year-old Scheduled Tribe woman. Judge H.S. Manjunath convicted them under Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, linked to Section 258 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The convicted include Basappa Naika (45), Raju Naika (52), Kempanna (52), Parvathi Basappa Naika (37), Yeallva Rudrappa Naika (67), Lakkappa Naika (26), Gangavva Basappa Walikar (62), Sangeetha Sadashiva Hegganaika (35), Santosh Naika (21), Sobha Raju Naika (49), Lakkavva Yellappa Naika (42), and Shivappa Vannuri (53). All are from Hosavantamuri village. The harsh incident occurred on December 11, 2023, in Vantamuri village, Belagavi district. The woman was attacked after her son eloped with a girl from their community. The girl’s engagement was set for December 11 but she fled with a boy from the same village on the night of December 10. Relatives of the girl ransacked the boy’s house and beat the boy's mother, later tying and partially stripping the tribal woman to a pole outside her home. A villager alerted police, who rescued the victim. The Kakathi Station Police registered a case under multiple IPC sections including 109, 114, 117, 143, 147, 148, 307, 323, 324, 326, 341, 342, 353, 354, 354B, 355, 392, 427, 452, 504, and 506, along with sections 149, 34, and 37. Charges also included destruction under the Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act, 1981. Due to the severity, the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Karnataka High Court suo motu directed that the trial be finished within one year. During the trial, 45 witnesses gave statements. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday. This strong judgment marks an important stand against such acts of violence and humiliation.