Family clash over AIDS victim kills 10

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Family clash over AIDS victim kills 10

The Indian Express 27 April 2000

ATHANI, APRIL 26: Six members of a family were burnt and four hacked to death by

a mobled by an enraged relative in Kohalli village in Karnataka's Belgaum on

Wednesday night. The attack followed a feud between two brothers, Eshwar and

Babu Bandru, over the burial of latter's daughter Kasturi, who allegedly died of

AIDS in a Miraj hospital on Tuesday. According to police, the two families, of

Harina Shikari (Pardi) Scheduled Tribe community, nursed old grudges. Babu's

family blamed Eshwar for Kasturi's illness, alleging he had performed black

magic. According to northern region IGP Om Prakash, both families had criminal

records and several cases had been filed against them.

On Wednesday evening, younger brother Eshwar objected to Babu's attempts to bury

the body in a family field, police said, and an argument ensued. After village

elders intervened, Babu performed Kasturi's last rites in his backyard. Around

7.30 p.m., Babu along with 12 family members at tacked Eshwar's house. The mob

bundled Eshwar and five of his family into the house, locked the doors and set

the house on fire. Babu and his men then hacked to death the four family members

outside. Eshwar had called for police help but when three policemen arrived,

Babu's men chased them away. Four women have been rounded up so far, police

said.

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Dr.Jagdish Harsh (jharsh@... )

Director of Administration and Operations

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

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