Bidar contractor's suicide: FIR against minister Priyank Kharge's associates

Kalaburagi: An FIR has been lodged against the District In-charge Minister Priyank Kharge's close associate Raju Kapanur and five other Congress leaders at Station Bazar police station here on Saturday on the charges of hatching conspiracy to murder BJP leaders, including MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu.

The deceased contractor Sachin Panchal had mentioned in his death note the names of Andola seer Siddalinga Swamiji, Kalaburagi rural MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu, other BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil against whom the Congress leaders allegedly hatched conspiracy to murder.

Panchal, who ended his life by falling under a train in Bidar on Thursday, left a suicide note accusing the associates of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge of making death threats.

The complaint is lodged against Congress leaders Nandakumar Nagabhujange, Gorakhnath Sajjan, rowdy-sheeter Pratap Dheer Patil (Pappu Patil), Manoj Sejawal and Ramangouda Patil. The contractor had also accused a few of these leaders of threatening him.

A heated argument erupted between the police officials and BJP leaders on Friday night when the latter sought to register a complaint against the Congress leaders on the charge of hatching a conspiracy to kill them. The FIR was lodged by the police officials when BJP leaders continued the protest on Saturday.

BJP chief to visit

The state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and party leaders N Ravikumar would visit the house of the deceased contractor in Bidar on Sunday. Meanwhile, the delegation of the party leaders from Bidar and Kalaburagi district have met the family members of the contractor on Friday.