Daijiworld Media Network – Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Aug 31:  A Jawan of Central Reserve Police Force, who had been on a visit to his native place on leave, fired at the relatives of his wife late night on Sunday August 29, killing three pesons. In the incident that occurred at Betadoor in Kundagol taluk of Dharwad district, a boy was also injured. The killer Jawan is absconding.

The deceased have been identified as Yallappa Bhajantri (42), his children, Ishwarya Bhajantri (12) and Somappa Bhajantri (8). The injured boy is Madankumar Bhantri, son of Yallappa. He is being treated in a private hospital in Hubli.

Reportedly, the Jawan in question, Shankarappa Tippanna Bhajantri (27), posted in Jammu and Kashmir, had loved and married a girl named Gayatri from Hubli a few months ago. His wife had returned to her parents’ home within a few weeks of the marriage, complaining that her husband was misbehaving with her. It is learnt that Yallappa Bhajantri, brother-in-law of Gayatri’s mother, had supported and facilitated the love marriage.

Immediately after arriving here on a two-week leave, Shankarappa, who strongly believed that Yallappa’s family was responsible for the discord between him and his wife, directly went to the latter’s home and discussed the issue with the family. After having dinner at Bhajantri’s home, he raked up the issue again. Heated arguments gave rise to raised tempers, culminating in firing by Shankarappa by using his unlicensed revolver.

Bhajantri’s wife, who tried to save her husband, was also fired at. She ran to safety. The three children, who were sleeping, were also fired at. While two children died, Madankumar survived with injuries.