Three arrested for killing father-daughter in village office

 

By Sumesh Rajan | September 24, 2026

Belagavi, Karnataka, INDIA: Three members of a family have been arrested for allegedly killing a 67-year-old former soldier and his 26-year-old daughter inside a Gram Panchayat office in Karnataka's Belagavi district following a dispute over ancestral property, police said.

The victims, identified as Rudrappa Shivanappa Kundaragi and his daughter Shashikala Kundaragi, were allegedly attacked with sickles and stones at the Avaradi Gram Panchayat office in Kittur taluk.

Police identified the accused as Rudrappa's brothers, Basappa Shivanappa Kundaragi and Sangappa Shivanappa Kundaragi, and Basappa's son, Madiwalappa Kundaragi.

The three were arrested on September 18 and subsequently produced before a court, which remanded them in judicial custody.

Property dispute preceded attack

According to police, Rudrappa, a former Indian Army serviceman originally from Avaradi who later settled in Dharwad, had been involved in a dispute with his relatives over ancestral property.

Investigators said Rudrappa had obtained a court order concerning the property and had gone to the Avaradi Gram Panchayat office with Shashikala to complete procedures for entering their names in the property register.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said the dispute involved 38 guntas of agricultural land.

Police allege that an argument broke out between Rudrappa and his relatives at the Panchayat office before the accused attacked him with sickles.

Shashikala was also allegedly attacked when she tried to intervene. Police are investigating allegations that she was struck on the head with a stone during the assault.

Both father and daughter died at the scene.

Man injured while trying to intervene

A man identified as Rahul, a resident of Shivagiri in Dharwad, was also allegedly attacked with a sickle when he attempted to intervene. He sustained injuries but survived and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Several people, including government employees and Panchayat staff, were reportedly present at the office when the attack occurred. Police are examining witness accounts and video recordings reportedly captured on mobile phones during the incident.

Police and forensic personnel later examined the Panchayat premises and collected evidence, while the bodies of Rudrappa and Shashikala were sent for post-mortem examinations.

Special team arrests three accused

Following the killings, SP Ramarajan constituted a special police team to trace the accused.

The team, led by Kittur Circle Inspector Shivananda B. Gudaganatti, arrested Basappa, Sangappa and Madiwalappa on September 18.

A case has been registered at Kittur Police Station under Crime No. 228/2026 and Sections 103(1), 109, 62 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police said further investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the property dispute and the sequence of events that led to the killings.