Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. File
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has condemned a Sri Ram Sene leader and two others for poisoning a drinking water tank in Hoolikatti village near Saundatti in Belagavi district near a school, with the intention of ensuring the transfer of a Muslim headmaster.
The three accused have been arrested with respect to the incident that occurred on July 14. “Three people, including Sri Ram Sene taluk president Sagar Patil, have been arrested for poisoning the drinking water of schoolchildren in Hoolikatti with the malicious intention of transferring the headmaster of the government school. Many children fell ill in this incident that took place 15 days ago. Fortunately, no one was killed,” the CM said in a social media post.
“This incident, which could have led to the massacre of small children, is proof that religious fundamentalism and communal hatred can lead to any heinous act. Is it possible for such a level of hatred to arise in the land of Sharanas? I cannot believe it even at this moment,” he said.
Taking potshots at the BJP leaders, he said: “Let the BJP leaders, who sow hatred in society in the name of religion and cook their political rice, do some self-criticism. Will (Sri Ram Sene president) Pramod Mutalik bear the responsibility for this incident? Will (BJP State president) B.Y. Vijayendra bear the responsibility? Will (Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly) R. Ashok bear the responsibility? Let the leaders who always support the anti-social acts committed by such people now come forward and atone for their sins. All kinds of sectarianism and fundamentalism are dangerous to human society.”
“We have formed a special task force to prevent hate speeches and communal riots, and we are taking all possible action against such people within the ambit of the law. For all our efforts to bear fruit, the public should also raise their voice against such forces, resist them, and file complaints. Congratulations to the police personnel who broke the evil plan of carrying out the massacre of children. I am fully confident that the justice system will ensure that the offenders get befitting punishment for such heinous acts,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, Belagavi SP Bheemashankar S. Guled told reporters in Belagavi on Saturday that Sagar Patil and Nagangouda Patil had blackmailed Krishna Madar, a local resident over his inter-faith love affair and forced him to poison the water. Krishna Madar bought three types of insecticide and put the mixture into a juice packet. He convinced a primary school student to empty the contents of the juice packet into the water.
Investigation was conducted following a complaint. Further investigation is on.
Published – August 04, 2025 03:50 am IST
