Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Poignant moments

HUBLI:It was a poignant moment for the family members of the victims of the police firing, following reported violence during the hoisting of the national flag at Idgah Maidan in Hubli 1994, here on Monday.

As the Speaker Jagadish Shettar distributed cheques to the family members and the injured, memories of the “dear departed” brought tears in their eyes.

Shanthabai S. Katti, who lost her husband, Srinivas, in the firing and was left with three girls to support, recalled the suffering.

“We heard commotion. He (Srinivas) just went out to see what was happening. One of our neighbours asked him to go inside as the situation was tense. As he turned back to return, a bullet hit him in the back,” she recalled.

Her daughters, Sujata, Savita and Saroja, who had seen their mother struggle to support the family after the incident, hoped that the assistance would be of some help to their mother in her old age.

The grandmother of Manjuanth Barada (he was killed in the firing) couldn’t control herself and broke down soon after the receiving cheque.

Lakshmi Hanumanthsa Mehwarwade remembered how the bullet injury in her abdomen had made her bed-ridden for several months.

Kashinath Ramanthsa Dhongdi (73), who lost his son, Sainath, in the incident was also there. However, he did not get any compensation as he had failed to appear before the inquiry committee during hearing.

“Sainath had gone to my elder son’s house. He saw Manjunath falling down after being hit by a bullet. He rushed to help him but suffered bullet injuries and died,” Kashinath said.

Kashinath and his family members have submitted memoranda to various authorities and elected representatives and are hoping that their plea would be heard.

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