A double murder was reported at a gram panchayat office in Avaradi village in Kittur taluk, Belagavi district, in which a former soldier and his daughter were allegedly attacked and killed in connection with an old property dispute.
The deceased were Rudrappa Kundaragi, 67, a former serviceman, and his daughter Shashikala Kundaragi, 26. Rudrappa’s car driver was seriously injured in the attack and was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
According to initial information, the incident occurred when Rudrappa had visited the gram panchayat to submit an application and complete documentation about a property division. The issue was between Rudrappa and his brothers over ownership and division of agricultural land.
Attack inside Gram Panchayat Office
Rudrappa had traveled from Dharwad to his native village in a rented car to visit the gram panchayat. The attackers allegedly came to know that he had arrived at the panchayat office and launched an attack.
Rudrappa was reportedly attacked inside the gram panchayat premises. When his daughter Shashikala attempted to intervene and rescue her father, she was allegedly attacked too.
According to the preliminary information, both father and daughter were attacked with a sharp agricultural weapon, resulting in fatal injuries. Shashikala was allegedly attacked after her hair was pulled and cut during the attack.
The incident reportedly created panic in the gram panchayat, and the injured car driver was taken to a nearby hospital.
Property Dispute Behind Attack
The preliminary information is that these murders are connected to the dispute around family property division.
The family had a dispute over about 38 guntas of land. A court order had ordered the property to be divided among three people, according to the information available about the case.
But the dispute continued after Rudrappa sold a part of the land that had been allotted to him earlier. He also had to contend with the other part of the property.
The dispute was thought to have intensified because some of the property was still registered in Rudrappa's name. His demand to have a share of the property connected with his brothers was supposedly one of the top points of contention in the family.
Brothers Among Suspects
According to the preliminary information, two of Rudrappa’s brothers and the son of one of the brothers allegedly carried out the attack.
The exact circumstances of the assault, the sequence of events and the role of each accused are expected to be established during the police investigation.
The allegations against the suspects will have to be established through the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
The police will look into the circumstances of Rudrappa’s visit to the gram panchayat, property records, the previous court order, and the events immediately preceding the attack.
Daughter tried to save father
It was particularly tragic when Shashikala attempted to intervene after her father was attacked, according to the preliminary account.
She was also assaulted during the incident and suffered fatal injuries, the preliminary account said.
The deaths of the father and daughter inside a government local-body office have shocked residents of Avaradi and surrounding areas.
Rudrappa’s driver is also wounded and is currently receiving treatment. Details about his condition are awaited.
Investigation Underway
The police will collect evidence from the gram panchayat premises and question witnesses who may have been present when the attack took place.
Investigators are likely to look into the family’s property dispute, relevant land documents and previous legal proceedings to establish the motive and sequence of events.
The incident has once again highlighted how prolonged property disputes can escalate into serious violence. The police will have to establish the facts through the investigation and take further legal action based on the evidence collected.
Further details regarding arrests, the sections of law invoked, and the investigation are awaited.
