Brothers attempt suicide outside Muniyappa's house

Two brothers from northern Bengaluru tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of former Union minister K H Muniyappa in Sanjaynagar on Sunday morning. They alleged Muniyappa was backing one of his aides. who had forged documents to grab their land.

Raju and Muniraju, from Venkatala, Yelahanka, doused themselves in petrol and tried to light a match. But one of Muniyappa's supporters snatched the matchbox. Other supporters joined in and started fighting with the brothers. Muniyappa came out of the house and brought the situation under control.

A security guard called the police, who arrived at the spot and detained the brothers. They were later let off with a warning.

According to the brothers, K V Ramprasad, a native of Kolar who is close to Muniyappa, had forged the documents of their one-and-a-half-acre land. Muniyappa initially promised to help them, but later backed Ramprasad.

A case was filed against Ramprasad at the Yelahanka police station in 2007. The brothers repeatedly met Muniyappa, who reportedly promised to solve the matter by talking to Ramprasad, but later backtracked. The property is worth Rs 20 crore.

Speaking to DH, Muniyappa claimed he was in no way connected to the land dispute. He said that since he was a strong contender for the post of KPCC president, someone wanted to bring a "bad name to me" and sent the brothers to create a scene at his house. The land dispute is in court and nobody can do anything about it, he added.