Haveri: Four persons attempted suicide following alleged harassment by Manjunath Olekar, son of Haveri MLA Nehru Olekar, at Shidenur village in Byadagi taluk on Tuesday.
Those who attempted suicide are Pandappa Kabbur, Gurushantappa Lamani, Gangavva Kabbur and Hanumantappa Badiger, all SCs and residents of Hosa Shidenur. After they consumed poison, they were rushed to Byadagi taluk hospital and later to Davanagere district hospital.
According to villagers, the government had sanctioned 245 acres to 29 Dalit families in 2007, and handed over RTC to them in 2008. But Manjunath allegedly objected to it and harassed them. MLA Nehru Olekar has rejected the allegations, saying the land was sanctioned when he was the MLA from Byadagi assembly constituency. “My son is not harassing them. I will address the issue soon,” he added.