Karnataka labourer hacked to death over property dispute, manhunt to catch accused

A 35-year-old man was allegedly hacked to death by four men who attacked him with sharp weapons in full public view over a long-standing property dispute in Karnataka's Koppal district, police said on Sunday. The attack, which police said occurred due to personal enmity, took place on Saturday night as bystanders looked on.

The victim was identified as Channappa Husenappa Narinal, a labourer who was a resident of Koppal district's Tavaragera town. The attack occurred around 10 pm in front of a bakery shop, barely a kilometre from the local police station.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the matter, the accused have been identified as Ravi Narinal, Pradeep Narinal, Manjunath Narinal and Nagaraj Narinal, who assaulted Channappa with swords and machetes. They targeted Channappa's neck, head, back and limbs, resulting in his death on the spot.

A video of the incident, which was shot by a bystander, has also surfaced, showing a large crowd gathered at the crime scene with Chanappa lying in a pool of blood. An elderly woman is seen crying and screaming by his side.

Police filed a case against all the accused under sections 103 for murder, 61(1) for criminal conspiracy, 49 read with 3(5) for aiding a crime with common intention.

Police said the attack on Channappa was pre-planned, and added the names of a few others for their alleged role in planning or facilitating the killing.

Police sources said that the complainant, Durugappa Narinal, the victim’s elder brother, told investigators that tensions had been escalating between the two factions due to an old property dispute between them. He further claimed that one of the prime accused, Ravi Narinal, had openly threatened recently to kill someone from their side.

After the incident came to light, a police team led by senior officers visited the crime scene to gather evidence.

A manhunt was launched to trace the culprits.