Daijiworld Media Network - Bagalkot

Bagalkot, Dec 10: Three people were murdered in two separate incidents of honour killing in Bagalkot district within a span of five days.

In the first incident, newly married couple Sangamesh and Hanumavva from Hungund taluk was hacked to death by Hanumavva’s family.

Three months ago, Sangamesh from Kumbara caste married Hanumavva from Kuruba caste against the wishes of Hanumavva’s family. Sangamesh working as a lineman for Hescom set up a household with his bride in the nearby Aaminagadu village.

Hanumavva’s father Hanumantha Soorara on the pretext of reconciling invited the couple to attend Karthikotsava celebrations.

Sangamesh was killed with lethal weapons allegedly by the father Hanumantha, his brother Gangappa and son Yellappa (16), son-in-law Yellappa Nagarala and friend Channabasavaiah in the sugarcane fields, said Bagalkot Superintendent of Police C B Rishyanth.

The family later killed Hanumavva and placed their bodies on Aminagada-Aihole road. They damaged the couple’s bike and tried make the murder look like a vehicular accident. The accused were arrested in Sangli, Maharashtra and brought back into Karnataka.

Killed for defying panchayat decision

The second incident took place in Jamakandi taluk. Twenty-year-old Sadashiva Kesaragoppa belonging to the Madiga community had fallen in love with a girl from the Valmiki community.

Six months ago, Sadashiva was warned in a village panchayat meeting to keep away from the girl but he defied the rule.

On December 7, the girl’s family tricked Sadashiva into coming to Hulyala village. His head was smashed with a stone and his body was found lying in the government school grounds, police said.

Bagalkot SP Rishyanth says the girl’s brothers Siddappa Halagali, Dundappa Halgali, relatives- Hanumantha Kalolli, Manjuntha Panditha were arrested.

The accused and Sadashiva were friends and worked as stonecutters at the same quarry. Hence, it was easy to trick him, the victims brother told police.