Teenagers stabbed to death in Belagavi, three arrested

Belagavi, September 18 (IANS): Tension prevailed in Belagavi city on Wednesday following the stabbing attack on three youths who were taking part in a Ganesh Visarjan procession, city officials said, adding that three accused had been arrested and two others were being sought.

According to sources, the victims were chased and stabbed on their way back after the procession in the early hours of Wednesday near Rani Channamma Circle.

When the accused fled on two-wheelers, people informed the police about the attackers. It was the locals who gave the police clues about the escape direction of the attackers. The accused were chased and finally arrested by the police near Visvesvaraya Nagar.

Three people were arrested in connection with the case and a manhunt for two others has been launched, police said.

According to police, Darshan Patil, Satish Pujari and Praveen Gundiagola were seriously injured in the incident. The accused stabbed the three youths in the stomach and fled. The injured youths were taken to Belagavi District Hospital.

According to preliminary reports, the three youths, who were participating in the Ganapati immersion procession, were suddenly attacked while they were dancing to the DJ music. The incident took place in the jurisdiction of APMC police station and led to tension in the city.

However, Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang later clarified that the attack took place after the end of the procession.

“The incident took place in Rani Channamma circle. It did not take place during the procession. There was an argument and the police pacified the people involved in the incident and sent them away,” Marbaniang said.

He said police have arrested three of the five accused. The arrested were identified as Kuri, Mahesha and Vijaya.

According to information collected by the police, the victim and the accused had a grudge against each other and were nursing an old rivalry. The argument between them occurred while dancing during the Ganesh Visarjan procession when they started arguing and claimed that their hands had touched, Marbaniang explained.

Three suffered minor injuries and are currently admitted to KLE Hospital, he added.

The case was transferred from APMC police station to Kade Bazar police station in Belagavi city.