Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Suicide: cases booked against 59 people

Staff Correspondent

Panchayat president who ended life `felt humiliated'

HUBLI: Yaraguppi Gram Panchayat president Ninganagouda Benakanahalli's suicide, allegedly because of the humiliation caused to him by a few gram panchayat who took out his mock funeral procession, has taken a political twist.

The police have booked cases against 59 people, including the former MLA C.S. Shivalli, holding them responsible for the suicide. No arrests have been made so far.

Ninganagouda Benakanahalli, who was a supporter of the Kundagol MLA, M.S. Akki, committed suicide on Friday by consuming poison.

Some members of the gram panchayat, said to be supporters of Mr. Shivalli, had launched an indefinite protest before the gram panchayat office against the alleged misappropriation of funds. On Thursday, the protesters conducted a mock funeral of the gram panchayat president, alleging that he was involved in the misappropriation, which, according to his close associates, had hurt him very much.

Protest called off

The chief executive officer of the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat met the protesters on Thursday and assured them that an inquiry would be conducted into the allegation. Following the assurance, the protest was called off.

But an upset Mr. Benakanahalli left the village on the same day and committed suicide.

Houses attacked

Enraged by the suicide, some persons vandalised two houses belonging to Mr. Shivalli, on Friday. Mr. Akki staged a protest at Yaraguppi demanding action against those responsible for the suicide.

Mr. Shivalli has denied any role in the incidents that led to the suicide of the panchayat president.

Yaraguppi, which is the native place of both Mr. Shivalli and Mr. Akki, is likely to see another battle between the two rivals.

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