Karnataka: 6 Members of the Same Family Murdered Over 25 Acres of Land; Victims Decapitated or Mutilated

Vijayapura: Violence stemming from a land dispute in the Vijayapura district of Karnataka has sent shockwaves through the entire region. On Friday afternoon, in Govindapura village—located within the limits of the district’s Chadchan police station—six individuals, including five members of the same family, were brutally murdered. Two other individuals sustained severe injuries. Following the incident, an atmosphere of tension prevails in the village, and a heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order.

According to the police, the crime took place on Friday afternoon between approximately 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM. The deceased have been identified as Dundappa Revansiddappa Nirale (65), Shivaputra Revansiddappa Nirale (58), Chandrakant alias Chandu Revansiddappa Nirale (55), Rahul Shivaputra Nirale (25), Samarth Shivaputra Nirale (23), and Shabbir Babusab Attar (45). Meanwhile, Arvind Katage (72) and JCB operator Sandeep Mane (33) sustained critical injuries; both have been admitted to a hospital in Vijayapura city.

Dispute Over Land Had Been Ongoing for Years
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the root cause of the incident lies in an ongoing dispute over 25 acres of land. Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi stated that the Nirale family had recently purchased this land from the Teli family of Nivergi. The land had been embroiled in disputes for approximately 15 years, during which time the Teli family had been unable to cultivate it.

According to the police, a long-standing feud regarding the ownership and possession of the land eventually escalated into this violent tragedy. The investigation has also suggested that the current dispute may be linked to a murder case dating back to 2015. At that time, a young man named Shivanand Patil was murdered, an incident that had left lingering tensions between the two factions. Police Investigating the Case
It is reported that members of the Nirale family were attacked just as they arrived to take possession of a recently purchased plot of land. The attackers wielded sickles and other sharp-edged weapons. The incident was so horrific that several individuals died on the spot. However, some locals have also raised suspicions regarding the possibility of gunfire. The police, however, state that no clear signs of gunshot wounds have been found on the bodies so far.

According to officials, the actual cause of death and the specific weapons used can only be confirmed once the post-mortem report is received. Currently, the police have registered a case and initiated an investigation; multiple teams have been deployed to search for the accused. Following this mass killing, an atmosphere of fear and tension prevails throughout the entire region. The police administration is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any untoward incidents.