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Rape convict jumps to death in court complex

Davanagere: A man convicted in a rape case died and another suffered serious injuries after the duo tried to escape from the district court complex by jumping from the first floor here on Wednesday.

The deceased is Sunil, 35 of Hireguntanur and the injured is Veerabhadra, who is being treated at the Chitradurga district hospital.

The duo were hand-cuffed after the second additional session court judge D Veeranna sentenced them to 10 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 3.5 lakh. They were waiting near the door of the court hall in the first floor.

In a bid to escape from police, the duo jumped from the first floor and fell on each other. Both suffered serious injuries and were shifted to the district hospital where Sunil succumbed, said police.

The duo was involved in the rape of a minor girl from Vishwanathahalli in Holalkere taluk. Main accused Prathap of the same village had kidnapped the girl to Kanive Maramma temple and forcibly tied a mangala sutra. He later raped her.

A case under the POCSO Act was filed and five others - Sunil, Ravi, Manikanta, Veerabhadra and Avinash were named in the chargesheet for supporting Prathap. District court judge D Veeranna sentenced Prathap to life imprisonment on Wednesday while sentencing the other accused to 10 years.

Police have booked a case against Veerabhadra for trying to escape.

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