Daijiworld Media Network – Tumkur (SP)

Tumkur, Jun 30: After it transpired that a gang of nearly 40 villagers had stoned their fellow-villager, Honnamma, to death with boulders on Monday June 28 evening, the policemen swung into action and arrested ten villagers. Honnamma, a dalit, belonged to Gopalapura village in the district. An assistant inspector of police (ASI) has been suspended for dereliction of duty in this connection.

The murdered woman was a BJP leader, who was abhorred for her chutzpah nature by the villagers, it is learnt. Chowlakatte gram panchayat president, Ranganath, who belongs to the JDS, and his wife, Manjula, are the prime suspects. It is said that the villagers, after dumping Honnamma in a drain, dropped heavy boulders on her. When they were leaving the place, thinking that the woman was dead, she became conscious and begged for water. Realizing that she was alive, the crowd came back, dumped her in a manure pit, and threw stones at her till she lost her life, the policemen said.

On the morning of the murder, the woman had was involved in a heated exchange of words with her adversaries. After she was posed death threats, Honnamma reportedly approached the policemen on security duty in the village, apprehending danger. But the policemen withdrew security early that day, Kiran Kumar, a villager, alleged.

Kiran Kumar, a BJP leader, has accused the suspended ASI, Krishna Naika, of Handanakere police station, of inciting the villagers against the woman. Chikkanayakanahalli circle inspector, Ravi Prasad, said that the role of another ASI, Gangadharappa, is also being probed in the incident and that he latter may also be suspended soon.