Belgaum: Row over bride price triggers mass murder

DHNS

• Six of nomadic family killed near Belgaum over ‘vadhudakshine’

 

Belgaum, 06 May 2011: Six members of a nomadic (‘hakki pikki’) group were hacked to death near Jalikop in Bailhongal taluk of Belgaum district in the early hours of Thursday by members of another nomadic group from Alamela of Sindhagi taluk in Bijapur district.

 

Six children, aged between two-and-half years and seven, were injured in the attack. The deceased included five women and a three-month-old infant. The menfolk of the group, four to five in number, fled the scene during the attack by the rival group.

 

The victims are Sakhubai Bhosle (22), Bayisen Surachan Bhosle (55), Kamateli Yallappa Pawar (30), Seetabai Chandrappa Pawar (45), Bakitbayi Guralingappa Pawar (50) and Seetabai, the three-month-old child.

 

All the injured have been shifted to the district hospital for treatment, where the condition of one is stated to be serious.

 

Police performed the final rites of all the six at the graveyard in Bailhongal with the help of menfolk who had fled the scene, but returned later. It is in a way mass murder for dowry. The refusal of one nomadic group to pay ‘Vadhudakshine’ (Teravu) had led to a quarrel between the two groups - one hailing from Ghantikeri, Hubli (now staying on the banks of River Malaprabha in Bailhongal taluk) and another from Alamela in Bijapur district.

 

The group of seven from Alamela, armed with javelins and other sharp weapons, attacked members of the other group, sleeping on the banks of Malaprabha, and virtually butchered them to death, according to one of the menfolk who had fled the scene. The attackers did not even spare the children who were sleeping.

 

It all started when Sakkubai of the Bailhongal group eloped with Mukesh Revaput Kale of the Alamela group two months ago. As per customs, the members of the Bailhongal group demanded Teravu, which the Alamela group refused to pay. There were quarrels between the two groups over phone since then.

 

Sakkubai returned from Alamela and started staying with her parents’ group. The group members were staying at Belavadi in Bailhongal taluk for the last few months and had moved to the river bank two days ago.

 

The Alamela group arrived at Bailhongal on Wednesday evening along with Mukesh, who wanted Sakkubai to come back to him else he would finish her off. He, along with Revaput Kale, Karjol Muralya Bhosle, Kumba Muralya Bhosle and others, caught the members of the group staying on the river bank unawares.

 

Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil visited the spot. Bailhongal police have taken up a case and are on the lookout for the accused.