HIV/AIDS: Bloodbath: Fear drives Karnataka village into silence

April 30, 2002

Bloodbath: Fear drives Karnataka village into silence

The India Express 29 April, 2002-Sarjoo Katkar & C.A. Itnalmath

ATHANI, APRIL 28: Kohalli village, 27 Km from Athani in Belgaum district, has a

population of only 6,000 and doesn't figure prominently on the map. But it hit

the headlines on Thursday as 10 members of a family were murdered in a fight

between two brothers over the burial of member who died of AIDS.

Babu Bandru Bhonsale, one of brothers, along with 25 others drove his brother

Eshwar and nine members his family into their house and set it ablaze. When the

victims tried to escape, the mob waiting outside hacked four to death and threw

the others back into the flames.

" They (the mob) were all drunk, dancing and shrieking, wielding knives, spears

and wooden batons, " said Babu Waddar, the village sarpanch who helplessly

witnessed it all.

While still alive, Eshwar had called up the Aigali police station for help.

Three constables were dispatched, but only two arrived only to be chased away by

Baby and his men.

By the time the police returned with reinforcements and a fire brigade, it was

too late: the house was reduced to ashes, 10 people were dead and the killers

had fled.

According to reports, Eshwar had objected to the holding of the last rites of

Kasturi, Babu's daughter, on family land. The word was out that she had

allegedly died of AIDS and Babu accused Eshwar of spreading the rumour.

As tempers rose, Kasturi's sister Sumitra reportedly smashed her head and

exhorted her father (Babu) and the gathering to take revenge. Babu completed

Kasturi's cremation in half an hour and set off to wipe out Eshwar's family.

The Bhonsales have a criminal past. Cases of theft and dacoity have been filed

against Eshwar, Babu and their family members, including the women. Villagers

said the two used to extort money from them.

Though there were several eye-witnesses to Wednesday's carnage, nobody has come

forward to give evidence. But the villagers have asked the police to drive Babu

and his family out of the village after they are arrested.

Police are trying to confirm whether Kasturi died of AIDS. Her husband, Arun

Nimbale, has been sent for HIV tests.

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Dr.Jagdish Harsh (jharsh@... )

Director of Administration and Operations

François-Xavier Bagnoud INDIA ( www.fxb.org )

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