Case booked against landowner for girl's death in open borewell

Police have filed a criminal case against the owner of the farmland, where a four-year old girl fell into a borewell and died at Nagathana village near here, and five others, in connection with the incident.

The cases have been filed under IPC Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), police said.

In a tragic end to the nearly 50-hour-long round-the-clock rescue operation, the body of Akshata Hanumanth Patil, which had almost started decomposing, was found at a depth of about 26 feet in the abandoned borewell late last night.

Meanwhile, District minister M B Patil, who supervised the operation along with senior district officials, has paid Rs one lakh compensation to the family of Akshata. He said he has recommended to the Chief Minister payment of more relief.

Noting that police have booked case against land owner where the borewell was kept open, he said government should take initiative to close all open failed borewells in the state.