Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Feb 4: In a shocking incident reported from M Byadaga village near Murnad in Kodagu district, a person fired at and killed his elder brother and sister-in-law, before committing suicide by turning fire at himself. This incident happened on Saturday February 3 morning.

Devaiah (66) and his wife, Prema Dechamma (53), were gunned down by Devaiah's younger brother and ex-serviceman, Palangiyanda Uthappa (62), a native of M Byadaga village. Uhappa was a resident of Mysuru.

Devaigh and Uthappa were involved in a long-drawn dispute over landed property owned by the family. The issue was pending since the last eight years and a suit had also been filed in the court in this connection. The two brothers had often fought on the issue, and their relatives had temporarily succeeded in intervening and settling their quarrels through mediation.

Uthappa had developed the practice of visiting Murnad during coffee and pepper harvesting season and return to Mysuru after completion of harvesting operation. The brothers had coffee plantations with the same boundary, and were often involved with fight over right of way. Relating to the dispute, Devaiah had approached state high court and succeeded in securing stay order during January this year.

When Devaiah and Prema Dechamma along with worker were harvesting coffee and pepper on Saturday morning, Uthappa reportedly approached them all of a sudden at around 9.15 am and fired at them with his double barrel gun. Devaiah, who suffered injuries in his abdomen region, and Prema, who received bullet injuries in the back, collapsed and died on the spot. Uthappa went away with the firearm and turned the fire at himself at the coffee plantation in front of his house. Although Uthappa, who was bleeding profusely after the incident, was taken to district hospital in the town for treatment where he was treated, his life could not be saved.

Deceased Devaiah and Prema Dechappa have left behind a son and a daughter, while Uthappa is survived by wife and a daughter. A case stands registered in the rural police station here about this incident, and investigation is continuing.