8 of family fall ill due to poisoning in murder attempt by neighbour in Chikkaballapur, 2 arrested

CHIKKABALLAPUR: In a shocking case of attempted murder, a man tried to poison eight members of his neighbour’s family over a property dispute at Devareddipalli in Bagepalli taluk on Thursday.

Papi Reddy, a resident of the village, allegedly poisoned his neighbour Madda Reddy’s family by mixing poison in their sambar. The victims include Madda Reddy, his wife Bhagyamma, their sons Madde Reddy, Manjunath, Manjunath’s wife Eshwaramma, their son Subramanya, daughter Mani, and a relative, Bhanushree.

The motive behind the incident is a long-standing dispute over a small piece of land between the two families. The dispute had led to a heated argument two years ago, and Papi Reddy had been nursing a grudge against the family since then. Papi Reddy allegedly planned the murder with the help of Chowda Reddy, who mixed the poisonous powder in the sambar.

After consuming the poisoned food, all eight family members fell ill and were rushed to different hospitals in critical condition. Currently, Madda Reddy, Manjunath and Subramanya are on ventilators in the ICU and their condition is critical. The other five family members are also undergoing treatment, and their condition is being monitored closely.

Police Superintendent Kushal Chowksey and the Bagepalli police visited the village on Friday and conducted an investigation. The SP said Papi Reddy and Chowda Reddy have been arrested and further investigations are under way. “The preliminary investigation has revealed that Papi Reddy had planned the attack meticulously, and the police are working to gather more evidence to ensure that justice is served”, he said.

The villagers are shocked by the incident and are demanding strict action against the accused. The police have assured that the accused will face the consequences of their actions.