Daijiworld News Network - Beltangady (GA)

Beltangady, Aug 29: Rayi gram panchayat member Vidyadhar Jain (32) was hacked to death by a group of persons at Kannadikatte near Padangadi here on Monday August 28 evening.

He was on his way to Venur from Guruvayankere along with his friend Iqbal alias Farda riding a mobike when a group of persons came chasing them.  Sensing danger, both Vidyadhar and Iqbal left their bike beside the road and started running from the place.  Iqbal managed to get into a house.  But Vidyadhar could not get into the house, since Iqbal had already closed the door.

So, he continued running in a small lane.  But the assailants, who split themselves in two groups, managed to catch him and then hacked him to death.  He was stabbed all over his body with sabres.  Meanwhile another group which saw Iqbal get into a house, damaged the house under the presumption that Vidyadhar too was in the same house.  They damaged the window glass.

Vidyadhar was a good kabaddi player and had come to play kabaddi at Pakkidakala on Sunday August 27.  Thereafter he had stayed in on of his relatives' house overnight.

Though identity of the assailants is not yet known, it is suspected that groupism has resulted in the killing of Vidyadhar.  He had identified himself with a particular group.  He had been centre of controversy many times and used to involve in gang fights and other activities.  Being a good kabaddi player himself, he used to organize many sports events.  It was only in the last election that he had contested for the GP election with the support of Congress.  He had even won the election.

He was the son of Gunapal Jain of Arala in Bantwal taluk and had married four years ago.  He is survived by wife and a two-year-old boy child.  He was a native of Venur here.  But he had shifted his residence to Arala a couple of years ago.

The Beltangady police have registered a case in this regard.