Three arrested for killing father and daughter inside gram panchayat office

Belagavi : Police have arrested three persons in connection with the brutal killing of a former soldier and his daughter inside the Avaradi Gram Panchayat office in Kittur taluk of Belagavi district.

The arrested have been identified as Basappa Kundaragi, brother of former soldier Rudrappa Kundaragi, his relative Sangappa Kundaragi and Rudrappa’s son Madiwalappa Kundaragi. Police have also seized the weapons allegedly used in the crime.

The incident is believed to have stemmed from a long-standing dispute over ancestral property among brothers. Rudrappa Kundaragi, 67, and his daughter Shashikala Kundaragi, 26, had gone to the gram panchayat office when they were allegedly attacked. Rudrappa’s car driver, who was also present at the spot, sustained serious injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment.

According to preliminary information, the family had been involved in a dispute over the division of a 38-gunta property. A court had reportedly ordered the property to be divided among three persons. However, Rudrappa had allegedly sold the portion that had come to his share and later insisted that he should also be given a share in the remaining land.

The demand reportedly led to repeated arguments among the brothers. Police suspect that the dispute escalated when one of the family members visited the gram panchayat office to submit an application relating to the division or sharing of the property.

The accused allegedly confronted Rudrappa and his daughter at the office and attacked them with weapons. Both suffered severe injuries and died in the incident.

Following the killings, police launched an investigation and identified the suspects based on preliminary evidence and information gathered during the inquiry. The three accused were subsequently arrested and the weapons allegedly used in the attack were recovered.

Police are questioning the arrested persons to establish the exact sequence of events and determine the role played by each accused. Further investigation is underway.

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The Hans India