Alcohol-Fueled Dispute Ends in Fatality at Chikkamagaluru Plantation

Fatal Altercation in Labour Quarters

A violent dispute between plantation workers in Kalasa taluk resulted in the death of Shivalinganahalli Bheemappa, a resident of Hire Hadagali in Ballari district. The incident occurred on Monday night at the Harmakki Estate in Marasanige village. Local authorities took two suspects into custody: Satpalin Fakirappa, also from Hire Hadagali, and Karibasappa Harijan, a native of Haveri district.

The Night of the Incident

According to the official complaint lodged by estate manager Umesh Shetti, the three men arrived at the estate just one week prior through a labour contractor. On Monday afternoon, the group returned to their communal quarters after finishing their shift. Investigation suggests that by 9 p.m., Bheemappa and Karibasappa were heavily intoxicated when a disagreement regarding their spouses escalated into physical violence.

The sequence of events reported by investigators includes several key details:

• Bheemappa initiated the physical attack, using a blade to wound the hands of both Fakirappa and Karibasappa.
• Retaliating against the assault, Fakirappa and Karibasappa used a machete to strike Bheemappa.
• Bheemappa sustained fatal injuries and died instantly at the scene.

Police Intervention and Arrests

In a peculiar turn of events, the two accused allegedly spent the remainder of the night in the quarters alongside the deceased, attempting to mask the crime. Discovery of the body occurred on Tuesday morning when other plantation employees observed Bheemappa's lifeless state and notified the manager. Upon arrival, Kalasa police processed the scene and apprehended the two coworkers. The investigation remains active as authorities piece together the final moments leading to the homicide.

Source: The Hindu — Home