Haveri: A civil contractor and Congress functionary was brutally murdered in broad daylight in Haveri district's Shiggaon on Monday, June 23, in what police suspect is a fallout of a property dispute.
The deceased, identified as Shivanand Kunnur (44), was attacked by a group of assailants near the Mahesh Dhaba while boarding his vehicle after lunch.
According to a report by The Times of India, six to seven attackers, who arrived on two motorcycles, assaulted Shivanand with iron rods and machetes, specifically targeting his neck. Eyewitnesses at the scene watched in horror as the assailants fled immediately after the attack.
A disturbing video of the entire incident surfaced on social media.
Trigger Warning: Viewer discretion is advised. Visuals in the following footage could be disturbing to some.
As per reports, an FIR has been filed based on a complaint from Shivanand’s wife, Nagaratna.
Police Name Suspects, Probe Land Dispute Angle
Haveri SP Anshukumar visited the crime scene along with a dog squad and forensic experts. He confirmed that CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined to identify the suspects and understand the exact motive behind the crime. Police have named Nagaraj Savadatti and his associates, Hanumanth, Ashraf, Sudeep, and Suresh, as the prime suspects. Early investigation points to a possible land dispute as the cause of the murder.
After the video of the horrific crime went viral on social media, SP Anshukumar assured that “a thorough investigation will uncover the motivation behind this cold-blooded act.”
In a dramatic turn of events, Shivanand’s family allegedly set fire to the house of one of the suspects later that night. While no injuries were reported in the arson, the incident has escalated tensions in the locality. Additional security personnel have been deployed to maintain order and prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Chitradurga district’s Hosadurga taluk, an auto driver named Srinivas (30) was fatally attacked by a group of four. Police suspect the motive to be linked to a personal affair. Investigations are ongoing in both cases.
