Prime Accused Gets 10-Year Sentence for Deaths of 15 Farm Workers

Quick Summary

• A SC/ST Court in Nalgonda sentenced aluru Venkatanarayana (51) to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for causing the deaths of 15 farm labourers due to reckless tractor driving without a valid license.
• The incident, which took place seven years ago in Valigonda town, involved a tractor being illegally used to ferry agricultural labourers.
• The accident resulted in 15 fatalities and injuries to 17 others.
• Venkatanarayana was convicted under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well as relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was also fined ₹5,000.
• A second accused, Dulipalla Nageswara Rao (41), received a fine of ₹5,000 under Section 181 of the Motor Vehicles Act for his role.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

This conviction underscores two critical aspects: judicial focus on accountability and the enforcement of laws pertaining to public safety. The sentencing comes seven years after the tragic event, highlighting systemic delays that hamper swift justice delivery but also demonstrating perseverance in addressing negligence leading to large-scale loss of life.

the ruling serves as an crucial reminder about adherence to vehicle licensing requirements and enforcement mechanisms around transport safety norms, particularly involving vulnerable groups like farm workers. While it offers some closure for victims’ families by holding individuals accountable under multiple legal provisions-including those aimed at preventing atrocities-it also points toward larger structural issues such as unsafe transportation practices and gaps in implementation that need sustained attention across rural india.