Three persons arrested for murder of father-daughter in gram panchayat office in Belagavi district

The accused allegedly picked up a quarrel with the victims over a property before attacking them with sickles and stones. | Photo Credit: Photo for representation only Three persons were arrested on September 19 for allegedly murdering their relative and his daughter at the Avaradi Gram Panchayat office in Kittur taluk in Belagavi district of Karnataka.A team of police officers arrested Basappa Shivanappa Kundaragi, Sangappa Shivanappa Kundaragi, and Madiwalappa Kundaragi on September 18. The trio were produced in court, which remanded them in judicial custody.They face charges of hacking to death their relative Rudrappa Shivanappa Kundaragi and his daughter Shashikala. The father and daughter had gone to Avaradi Gram Panchayat office in Kittur taluk to enter their names in a property register following a court order.During this visit, the accused allegedly picked up a quarrel with the victims over the property before attacking them with sickles and stones. As a result, Rudrappa and Shashikala died on the spot.The accused also allegedly attacked a person named Rahul, who had intervened to stop the altercation, with a sickle before fleeing from the spot. Rahul suffered injuries, but survived.A case was registered at the Kittur Police Station (Crime No. 228/2026) under Sections 103(1), 109, 62, and 3(5) of the BNS Act-2023, and an investigation was initiated.Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan constituted a special investigation team to trace and arrest the accused. The team included Kittur Circle inspector Shivananda B. Gudaganatti, PSIs Bharat S. and G. G. Hampannavar, ASI Vastrad , and station staff R. S. Sheeli, A. D. Hannikeri, D. M. Daragad, M. B. Kambar, M. M. Kamble, S. A. Dafedar, S. M. Murgod, A. M. Chikkeri, N. R. Galagi, and Nagaraj Kadagannavar.The team arrested the accused on September 18.Mr. Ramarajan, Additional SP R. B. Basaragi, and Deputy SP Veerayya Hiremath congratulated the team for the swift action. Published - September 19, 2026 09:59 am IST