Tumakuru clash: officials succeed in winning over village residents

They agree to perform last rites of Tumakuru varsity employee

After hours of negotiations and a day of tension, the district administration finally succeeded in convincing the agitating village residents on Sunday to bury the body of Shivakumar (31), a Tumakuru University worker, who had committed suicide.

The suicide is suspected to be in connection with the acquisition of land for a solid waste plant near Ajjagondanahalli.

All through Sunday, farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar, the district administration and the police officials met the village residents and convinced them into performing the last rites. Compensation was announced for the victim’s kin.

While the body was eventually buried late in the evening, tension remained in the area which saw clashes between the police and the residents. This left 11 people injured, including nine police personnel.

Police Inspector Abdul Khader, who sustained head injuries, was reported out of danger at NIMHANS in Bengaluru. While the other policemen have been discharged, two injured residents are still in a government hospital.

While it’s not clear why Shivakumar committed suicide, authorities clarified that “not a single inch of land” of the deceased was acquired for the project.

Deputy Commissioner K.S. Sathyamurthy told The Hindu, “Tumkur City Municipal Corporation had acquired 40 acres and 24 guntas land for the plant. This is as per the directions of the High Court, and we cannot shift the plant now.”

Former Minister S. Shivanna said, “Politicians have bought acres of land near the plant and hence they are instigating the protests as the plant could spoil real estate prices in the area.”

However, State president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sanga Kodihalli Chandrashekar alleged that the government was responsible for the death and demanded a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh.