Three men have been remanded to judicial custody for allegedly poisoning a school water tank in Karnataka’s Belagavi to target a Muslim principal. The accused reportedly lured a student and used pesticide to contaminate the drinking water, hospitalizing 11 children.
Belagavi: On August 4, a trial court in Karnataka sent three men to judicial custody till August 11 for allegedly poisoning the drinking water tank of a government school in Belagavi district. The accused were reportedly trying to remove the school’s Muslim principal by causing harm to the students.
The order was passed by Senior Civil Judge Siddarama of the Savadatti court in Belagavi. The three men arrested in the case are Sagar Patil, who is the Taluk President of the Hindu right-wing group Sriram Sene, and two others – Krishna Madar and Naganagouda.
The incident took place on July 14 in Hoolikatti village, Savadatti Taluk, Belagavi District. It caused panic in the area after 11 students of the Government Kannada Primary School fell ill.
They had drunk water from the school’s designated tank, which was later found to be poisoned. After drinking the water, several children started vomiting and feeling dizzy. They were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the police believe that the three accused had intentionally mixed pesticide into the drinking water with the motive to harm the students and to target the school’s principal, Suleman Gorinaik Baraimama, because he is a Muslim.
The report further says that the act was planned carefully and executed with the help of a school student, who was allegedly lured with snacks and money.
The FIR mentions that one of the accused, Krishna Madar, was blackmailed into helping. He was reportedly in a relationship with a woman from another caste, and Sagar Patil threatened to reveal this unless Madar cooperated.
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As per the police complaint,
“Madar was in a relationship with a woman from another caste, and Patil threatened to expose this relationship unless Madar helped them carry out the poisoning.”
The FIR also states that the pesticide was bought from Munavvalli by Naganagouda and Madar. They later mixed it into the school’s water tank, which was then consumed by the students.
The complaint describes how a student was manipulated into becoming part of the plan. It states,
“A student from the school was lured using snacks and money and was forced to help in the crime.”
The police have registered the case under Sections 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety) and 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The shocking nature of the case has caused anger and concern among parents and citizens in the area. Authorities are continuing their investigation, while the school has taken steps to ensure the safety of its students.
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