Former gram panchayat president shot dead in Vijaypur

Vijaypur: A former gram panchayat president of Devar Nimbargi village in Chadchan taluk of Vijaypur district was shot dead by four miscreants at a barber shop in the village on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Bheemanagouda Biradar (40). Vijaypur Superintendent of Police Laxman B Nimbargi informed DH that Bheemanagouda was also a rowdy-shetter and multiple murder cases are pending against him.

On Wednesday morning at around 8:50, when Bheemanagouda was at a barber shop, four men entered the shop and threw chili powder in his eyes and shot four round of fire at him. The victim died on the spot.

Bheemanagouda Biradar.

Police have so far arrested four persons-- Wasim Maniyar, Razivulla Makanadar, Moulasab Borgi, and Firoz Sheikh—in this regard. Laxman says that each of the accused was unhappy and had grudges against the deceased person.

“The four hatched a plan against the victim and executed it on Wednesday,” he said.

Sources in department informed DH the four have confessed to the crime and gave financial cheating as reason for murder.

However, according to a written complaint filed by the wife of the deceased person, the murder might have taken place over an old rivalry.

Rajeshri Biradar in her complaint states that her husband might have been killed by Wasim and others to take revenge over Bheemanagouda’s role in sending Zakir Maniyar (brother of Wasim) to jail.

In 2023 Zakir and others were accused of caste abusing Devar Nimbargi village Panchayat Development Officer Rathod. Police had arrested Zakir in this case and he had to spend a few days in jail. The four accused persons believed that Bheemanagouda played the main role in sending Zakir to jail.

Bheemanagouda is said to have taken Rs one lakh from Zakir to help him get a house under Ashraya house. However, the victim failed to keep his words and also did not return the money. Irked by this, Zakir and others had threatened Bheemanagouda of killing him if he failed to return the money.

Another reason being floated for the reason of murder is that Bheemanagouda had been holding a grip on the Devar Nimbargi gram panchayat for the last 10 years. It is said that he was planning to appoint one of his followers as the president for next term, which is scheduled for election in next few months.

A case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 103 (1) murder, and other relevant sections have been filed at Chadchan police station.