Murgod villagers demand govt land for last rites of fallen soldier, caned

BELAGAVI: The police resorted to mild lathicharge against villagers who were demanding government land for the last rites of a soldier who died after sustaining injuries in action, at Murgod in Bailhongal taluk on Sunday evening.

The villagers had made a request to the panchayat development officer to allot government land for the last rites of the soldier, but this was rejected and the villagers were told to conduct the last rites in the regular cremation ground. Angered over this, the villagers staged a snap protest, forcing the police to mildly lathicharge them.

The soldier, Vishnu Karjol (25), had sustained injuries while on duty and was shifted to the military hospital in New Delhi where he was being treated for the last three months. However, he did not respond to treatment and died four days ago.

The mortal remains reached his hometown on Sunday and, after the lathicharge, the family members conducted the last rites in the village cremation ground.