12 arrested for murder of 6 people over land dispute in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district

The deceased were trying to cultivate the land of a man who was murdered a few years ago. | Photo Credit: Photo for representation only

Twelve people have been arrested on charges of killing six people in Govindpur village, near Chadchan in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district, on May 29 in connection with a land dispute.

The accused — Kallanagouda Eshwaragouda Patil, Appugouda Lagamanagouda Patil, Eshwarappa Lagamanagouda Patil, Prakash Basavaraj Mastra alias Patil, Parugouda Basavaraj Patil alias Prashant, Siddaram Kallanagouda Patil, Layappa Neneppa and Biradar Naimadena Kollia and Chimadeda Kollia Sreemanth Biradar, Sreemanth Shankareppa Biradar, Shankareppa Mahadev Arikeri, Appasaheb Shankar Bovi — were arraigned in court on June 1.

The 12 and some unidentified persons face charges of killing Dundappa Revanasiddappa Nirale, Shivaputra Revanasiddappa Nirale, Chandrakanth alias Chandu Revanasiddappa Nirale, Rahul Shivaputra Nirale, Samartha Shivaputra Nirale, 23 near Chaindba Atchantar village, Babus in Babus, Gábúd Shabbir. Vijayapura District, in Karnataka. Two others, Aravind Yashwant Katage and Sandeep Bharat Mane, were injured.

Police said a long-standing rivalry between the two families led to the murders, which took place at the estate of the deceased on May 29.

A few years ago, Shashikanth Ramesh Teli, Prashantha Ramesh Teli, Kamaninga Sangappa Teli and Mahadev Sangappa Teli murdered Shivanand Kallanagouda Patil, a member of the Talwar community, accusing him of kidnapping a girl from the Ganiga community. The court found them guilty of the crime and imposed the sentence. Thereafter, the accused and their relatives left the village and settled elsewhere.

Since then, the land belonging to their families has remained unclaimed. Recently, members of the Nirale family bought the land and tried to cultivate it. This reportedly infuriated the family of Kallanagouda Patil and others who assaulted the members of the Nirale family and their associates.

A team of officers including Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy SP and CPI Chadchan visited the village. Police teams consisting of three district armed reserves and four Karnataka state reserve police teams have been deployed in the village.

Published – 01 June 2026 13:00 IST