Jainoor assault case: Tribal woman’s assailant Sk. Makhdoom sentenced to life

Adilabad: The accused in the Jainoor attempted rape and murder case of a tribal woman was sentenced to life.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the 49-year-old person convicted in the infamous case. The incident resulted in violence and imposition of curfew on Jainoor town for a few months.

One year after the violence

On Thursday (August 28), the Special Sessions Judge for trial of cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in Adilabad, Kumar Vivek, sentenced Sk. Makhdoom to life. The convict is from the Jainoor mandal headquarters in the Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.

KB Asifabad Superintendent of Police Kantilal Patil said that the verdict, which came within one year of filing the case, will deter anyone from perpetrating sexual crimes against girls and women.

What is the case about?

The case of attempted rape and murder came to light on August 31, 2024, when passersby found a badly bleeding victim by the road in the interiors of the mandal. The victim subsequently revealed that she had boarded the auto operated by Sk. Makhdoom was on that fateful day to go to Sirpur (U) from Jainoor.

The accused assaulted her violently when she resisted his attempt to molest her. He hit her on the head and face with an iron rod before abandoning her.

Passersby discovered the victim by the side of the road, after which they alerted the 108 ambulance, following which she was shifted to Jainoor PHC and later to Gandhi hospital, Hyderabad. The story of the murderous assault came to light only after two days, when the victim regained consciousness and spoke of the assault to a police constable who could speak Gondi.

Meanwhile, the incident spread anger among the tribal community in the agency areas of KB Asifabad and Adilabad districts. On September 4, 2024, Jainoor witnessed violence through arson and looting following a protest call.

While the situation was brought under control, the busy commercial centre of Jainoor remained shut for 75 days after the violence broke out. At present, the bustling rural town is under the continuous watchful eye of the police and is peaceful.

Sirpur (U) SI D Ramakrishna had arrested the accused and registered a case under the SC/ST (POA). The then DSP, Asifabad P Sadaiah, had investigated and seized the auto and iron rod used to commit the crime.

DSP Karunakar, who had succeeded Sadaiah and Asifabad ASP Chittaranjan, interrogated the witnesses while Jainoor CI Ramesh and other officers worked on the case.

KB Asifabad Superintendent of Police Kantilal Patil congratulated the police officers and others, and the Special Assistant Public Prosecutor M Ramana Reddy for expeditiously taking the case to its logical end.