In a grim turn of events that marks one of the inaugural cases under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 in Karnataka, a police constable was arrested on charges of murdering his wife. The incident occurred at the office of the Hassan Superintendent of Police, signaling a somber start to the new legal framework that replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The accused, Constable Lokanath, had been serving at the SP office in Hassan. He allegedly attacked his wife, Mamatha, aged 37, when she visited the office to file a complaint against him. An altercation ensued during which Lokanath reportedly stabbed his wife, leading to fatal injuries.
“This might be the first instance under the BNS where a police officer is being registered for a criminal act in Karnataka,” noted a senior police officer handling the case. Following the incident, Hassan city police swiftly acted under Section 103 of the BNS, which prescribes the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a fine, for the crime of murder.
The altercation was rooted in a strained relationship between the couple, as detailed by the authorities. Mamatha intended to meet Mohammad Sujeetha MS, the Superintendent of Police of Hassan, to lodge her complaint, but was confronted by Lokanath before she could do so. Following the stabbing, Lokanath fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after by the police.
Eyewitnesses and police officials at the scene promptly transported Mamatha to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead upon arrival. The tragic event has since provoked public outcry, with her family members and local residents staging protests demanding justice for Mamatha.
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The BNS, alongside the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), forms part of a comprehensive overhaul of India’s criminal justice system. These new codes aim to replace the longstanding IPC, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively, reflecting significant changes in the legal landscape.
