Case taken seriously only after Dalit groups protested: Pankaj Thanwar

Pankaj Thanwar, Sonai massacre victim Sandeep Thanwar's brother was present in the Nashik Sessions Court on Monday. He expressed his dissatisfaction over the court not holding all the accused guilty. "I hope that the court sentences all six to death punishment, only then will I consider that there are equal rights for all people irrespective of their caste."

A soldier posted at the Indo-China border in Ladakh, Thanwar expected his family's security would be taken care of but was left disappointed. He has been posted in Nashik for the past three years which helped him pursue the case proceedings in court.

"My brother and Rahul Kandhare were the witnesses to how Sachin Gharu was killed for having an affair with the daughter of the accused," he said. Thanwar even complained that former Home Minister RR Patil, in 2013 had promised that the case would be put fast tracked, and would conclude within six months however it took five years to conclude. He alleges that political clout of the accused ensured that the police discredited the case as a monetary dispute. It was only after Dalit groups protested that the matter was investigated in the right manner, added Thanwar.