The High Court on Wednesday reversed a Bijapur sessions court order of acquittal and convicted six persons in a double murder case.

The Court imposed life sentence to all the six, while retaining the acquittal of three other accused in the case.

Allowing a prosecution appeal, the Division Bench comprising Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice AS Pachhapure passed the conviction order against Yellappa K Walikar and his five brothers, Panchappa K Walikar, Shankarappa K Walikar,  Yelagurdappa K Walikar, Basappa K Walikar and Shiddappa K Walikar of Areshankar village, Basavanabagewadi taluk, Bijapur.

They were accused assaulting one Ramesh Y Divatagi and his mother-in-law Nagawwa B Walikar to death on September 24, 1995. Bijapur sessions court had acquitted the accused by an order on Sept 4, 2000.

The six brothers were said to have a property dispute with Nagawwa, wife of their deceased uncle Bhimappa Walikar and Ramesh, who was looking after the family’s lands.

Lottery judgment

The HC Division Bench will deliver its verdict on the government’s action of banning the lotteries on Thursday. The arguments on the appeal filed by Arunachal Pradesh state lotteries department and other operators against the single judge order upholding the ban, concluded on Wednesday.