Daijiworld Media Network – Haveri (SP)

Haveri, Nov 9: A person indiscriminately stabbed the face of his close friend in a fit of rage, taking away his eyesight as a result. The assailant was angered by the fact that his close friend was to depose against the former in the court the next day.

The victim has been identified as Ramappa Hudachappa Valmiki (38). His friend, Chandrappa Karisiddappa Kerikoppad, escaped after stabbing Valimiki’s eyes on Sunday night. The case was to come up for hearing in the court on Monday. Ramappa, who has lost his eyesight, is being treated in KIMS Hospital in Hubli. The policemen are on the lookout for the absconding accused.

In a property dispute in which Kerikoppad was one of the litigants, Valmiki, his close friend, was to appear as witness for the opposing party. This had given rise to flared tempers and verbal frictions between the two.  Kerikoppad was certain that the evidence of Valmiki can act against his interests. On Sunday night, he offered liquor to Valmiki generously, and when Valmiki was fully drunk, he stabbed all over the latter’s face, causing loss of eyesight, a relative of Valmiki named Nagappa Neelappavar, said in a complaint lodged with the policemen.