Belagavi Man Hacked to Death Over 10-Year-Old Elopement Grudge
Man in Belagavi hacked to death with machete over decade-old grudge linked to accused's mother eloping with victim.
In the quiet village of Hoolikatti near Saundatti taluk in Belagavi district, Karnataka, a shocking act of vengeance unfolded on Monday night. Basappa, a local man in his 40s, was brutally hacked to death by Irayya, who allegedly struck him over 16 times with a sharp machete. Eyewitnesses and police reports describe a gruesome scene where Irayya placed his foot triumphantly on Basappa's lifeless body, posing for photographs before authorities arrived. The incident, reported on February 3, has sent ripples of fear through the rural community, highlighting deep-seated grudges festering over years.
The roots of this tragedy trace back to 2015, when Basappa allegedly eloped with Irayya's mother, abandoning the family and vanishing from the village. Irayya, then a minor around 15 years old, was left traumatized by the sudden loss, reportedly enduring years of emotional scars and social stigma in the tight-knit community. Police investigations reveal that Irayya harbored intense resentment, blaming Basappa solely for his mother's departure and the family's subsequent hardships. Despite exhaustive searches over the decade, Irayya could not locate the pair until recently.
Four days prior to the attack, Basappa unexpectedly returned to the region, settling in nearby Basadoni village to oversee the construction of a house—possibly signaling an intent to rebuild his life locally. Word of his presence spread quickly through village networks, igniting Irayya's long-suppressed rage. According to police, Irayya meticulously planned the ambush, lying in wait near Hoolikatti village on a dimly lit rural road. This calculated move underscores the premeditated nature of the crime, as confirmed by initial forensic evidence and witness statements.
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On Monday evening, as Basappa rode his motorcycle through the area, Irayya emerged from hiding and waylaid him in a ferocious assault. The attack was relentless, with machete blows targeting vital areas, leading to Basappa's instant death at the scene amid pools of blood. Shockingly, Irayya did not flee; instead, he dialed the police himself, confessing to the act while still at the bloodied spot. Officers from Saundatti police station rushed to the site, apprehending him without resistance and securing the machete as evidence.
Basappa's body was promptly transported to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) for a detailed postmortem, which will determine the exact cause of death and number of injuries. A formal case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder has been registered at Saundatti police station. Investigators are now probing Irayya's decade-long pursuit, including any prior attempts to track Basappa, and the current whereabouts of Irayya's mother. Community leaders have condemned the violence, calling for counseling to address underlying family feuds.
In a related incident highlighting elopement's deadly toll, Davanagere district police arrested a woman and her lover on February 2 for abetment to suicide. Newlywed Saraswati allegedly eloped with Kumar on January 23, just three months after marrying Harish, leading to his distraught suicide by hanging. Harish's suicide note accused the pair of harassment and threats, amplifying the pattern of personal betrayals turning fatal in Karnataka's rural heartland.
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