1994 Vamanjoor murders: No remission for convict Praveen Kumar

Mangaluru: The kin of the four persons killed by Praveen Kumar in a sensational murder case at Vamanjoor in 1994, are relieved that he has not been released from prison.

The family said they were in constant touch with the police officers.  The Home Minister of the state has assured that Praveen will not be released soon, they added.

The victims’ family, including Praveen’s wife, had strongly opposed the proposal of the state government to release the convict early as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. They had cited threat and intimidation among other reasons for their opposition.

Praveen Kumar, a resident of Uppinangadi Periadka in Dakshina Kannada district, had murdered his aunt (father’s sister) Appi Sherigarthi, her son Govinda, daughter Shakuntala and Shakuntala’s daughter Deepika in Vanmanjoor on the midnight of February 23, 1994 for stealing gold and other valuables.

This case created a big sensation in the country. Allegations against Praveen were proved from the lower court to the Supreme Court. In 2003, the Supreme Court sentenced him to death.

Praveen, who complained about this, appealed to the President for mercy, which remained pending for 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court upheld the order canceling the death sentence of the three convicted of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Based on this, Praveen approached the Supreme Court again, which later commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.

Praveen is currently lodged at the Hindalaga jail in Belagavi.