A Dalit agricultural labourer was allegedly murdered by his employers for refusing to turn up to work for a few days, at Hanagal near Konanuru in Arkalgud taluk.
The deceased has been identified as Harish (33), a resident of Dalit Colony in the village. He is survived by mother and wife.
Harish had been working in Jamruth Sab’s arecanut field for over five years. Harish’s mother Deviramma, in her complaint to Konanuru police, said that relatives of Jamruth Sab had informed her on Thursday evening that Harish had consumed poison while in the farm. Harish’s wife Radha and others rushed to the farm and took him to a hospital in Konanur, from where he had to be shifted to Arkalgud. He died on the way to Arkalgud.
“We were under the impression that Harish had consumed poison. However, when we were preparing for his final rites on Friday, we found wounds on his chest,” Ms. Deviramma said in the complaint.
Suspecting murder, she filed a complaint accusing Jamruth Sab, Irshad and Saddam of killing Harish. She alleged that they murdered him because he had not gone to work for the past few days. Based on the complaint, the Konanuru police registered an FIR under Section 302 of the IPC and the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. The accused are absconding.
Superintendent of Police R.K. Shahapurwad said, “The post-mortem was conducted on Saturday. The cause of death will be known once the post-mortem report is available.”
