An elderly man and his daughter were hacked to death by relatives over a property dispute in Kittur, Belagavi district, on Wednesday. The victims were 67‑year‑old ex‑serviceman Rudrappa Kundaragi of Dharwad and his 30‑year‑old daughter, engineer Shashikala, who were killed on the premises of the gram panchayat in Avaradi village.
Rudrappa had visited the gram panchayat office to add his name to the Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) following a court order that awarded him ownership of a house. Long‑standing disagreements over the sharing of farmland with his brothers had escalated into a violent confrontation after he left the office.
Police suspect that Rudrappa’s brothers, Sangappa and Basappa, and Basappa’s son Madiwalappa attacked him with lethal weapons, including machetes and rods. Shashikala tried to rescue her father and was assaulted as well, suffering head injuries and a cut braid. The elderly man and his daughter bled to death; Rudrappa’s driver was also injured. Eyewitnesses reported that the accused fled on motorcycles, and a case has been registered.
Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan visited the scene and said investigators had obtained video footage from onlookers, which is being examined to identify the accused. He warned that relatives or friends who shelter the perpetrators could face criminal proceedings. The SP also highlighted that unresolved civil disputes, lack of awareness of legal remedies, and delays in court judgments often lead to such violent acts, and that faster justice delivery could reduce similar incidents.
