A key witness in the caste conflict case in Markumbi village in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district in August last was found dead under mysterious circumstances here on Friday.
The body of Veeresh (45) was found on the railway track near the RTO in Koppal. The police suspect he might have been run over by a train.
In August 2014, several houses of Dalits were set ablaze at Markumbi, allegedly by ‘upper’ caste people. Five cases were registered in this connection and Veeresh was a witness in one of them. Dalit leaders from the village suspect his death is not suicide. They said he had come here to attend the court in connection with the trial of the case. Sources in the police, however, said they had no such information. P. Raja, Superintendent of Police and other senior police officials visited the spot.
Gadag railway police have registered a case. This incident has come close on the heels of the mysterious death of Yellalinga, a student in Koppal. The issue had rocked Belagavi session prompting the government to order a CID probe into the murder.
