Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Dec 14: About two weeks back, there were reports of poisoning of the drinking water well of the government higher primary school at Shibaje Perla near Nelyady which had turned students sick. Not satisfied with their heinous act, the miscreants have now added poison to the drinking water tank of Shibaje gram panchayat. This incident came to light on Friday December 13.

The tank in question is located on the banks of river Kapila at Battaje near Perla. Water from the river is pumped to this tank. From this huge tank, water is lifted through pumping to another tank at Perla. Water from this tank is supplied to about 70 houses and also Perla government higher primary school.

Pump operator, Narayana Poojary, realized on Friday morning that the water being supplied from the tank had some strange odour. On a closer verification, he found that a number of flies had died there. On checking the tank to which pump is attached, he saw that a number of fishes too had died, tank water had become pale, and flies were buzzing around. He also saw that the pipe from the river had been lifted upward and there were foot marks.

This incident has made villagers scared for their wellbeing. Shibaje gram panchayat president, Susheela, member, Ramesh Gowda Kurunjua, Beltnagady MLA, Harish Punja, police circle inspector, Sandesh, Dharmasthala police sub-inspector, Odiyappa Gowda and others visited the spot and scrutinized the area.

School students and parents held a huge protest on Friday at Perla, demanding early identification of the culprits who poisoned drinking water. The students went in a procession from Shibaje downtown to school and expressed anger at the failure of the concerned to nab the miscreants even 12 days after the incident. They raised slogans against policemen, education department, and people's representatives. Beltangady deputy tahsildar, Satish Kumar, and circle inspector, Sandesh, visited the spot and received their memorandum. On the basis of their promise to try to locate the criminals, the protest was withdrawn.