A shocking incident of violence has rocked Karnataka’s Vijayapura district after six people were brutally murdered in what has been termed a land dispute massacre in the Bhima river belt region.
The horrific attack took place on Friday afternoon in Govindpur village on the outskirts of Chadachan Taluk in Vijayapura district. Among those who were killed were Chadachan Town Panchayat member Chetan Nirale and family members Dundappa Nirale and Shivaputra Nirale. Six people were also injured in the horrifying attack.
The violence erupted over a long-standing dispute over nearly 25 acres of controversial agricultural land, sources said. The Nirale and Golagi families had conflicted for years over ownership and cultivation rights on the property, they said.
Reports indicate that the disputed land was purchased by relatives of the Nirale family from a relative of the Golagi family, despite objections from the latter. The dispute has intensified in the last few months, and there has been frequent fighting between the two groups.
On the day of the incident, members of the Nirale family had arrived at the farmland to clear the area and start agricultural activities. Labourers were also engaged for cleaning and farming work. At this time, there was a heated argument between members of the two rival families.
The situation soon turned violent. Appugouda, along with his men, allegedly opened fire and attacked the victims with deadly weapons, police sources said. The attackers reportedly rushed and tormented the victims mercilessly in the farmland area.
One of the deceased was Shabbir Nadaf, a labourer who had arrived at the site for work. He was an unfortunate victim in the violent clash, the authorities said.
Investigators are also investigating whether the accused Appugouda is linked to Manakappa Mastar, a man who was killed in another notorious murder case in the Bhimatheer region. The Bhimatheer belt has experienced many violent incidents of land disputes and factional rivalry in the past.
Not long after the incident, senior police officials rushed to the spot and launched an intensive investigation. There is now a high level of security in and around Govindpur village to avoid any violence and retaliatory attacks. Police are looking for the accused, some of whom we believe are absconding after the massacre.
The brutal killings have sent shockwaves across Vijayapura district, and local people are fearful and horrified by the increasing number of violent land disputes in rural Karnataka.
Further investigation is underway.
