Karnataka Police arrest one for firing on Diddalli camp

MADIKERI: On Wednesday the Siddapura Police in Karnataka arrested a coffee planter on charges of firing at tents of Diddalli tribals. Ammatanda Poonacha (50) hailing from Gudlur near Siddapura had given an advance payment of `1000, `200, and `800  to tribals Mani, Chippa and Annappa respectively for estate work, it is said. Ammatanda Poonacha visited Diddalli and asked the tribals to return the money on Tuesday as they did not turn up for work.  As the labourers did not respond  an irked rode to Diddalli tribals colony in an inebriated state and fired three rounds from his gun.

Police recovered a live cartridge from the crime scene on Tuesday, Mr. P. Rajendra Prasad, Superintendent of Police. After getting clues from the tribals

Police arrested the accused and also recovered three empty cartridges, the gun he used and a bike from his house. The attack was carried out late at night during pouring rains said residents of the camp Paniravara Basava and Ranju who is also part of the struggle to get the Diddalli tribals housing sites. This was an attempt to discourage labourers from continuing their fight they said. “But the struggle will go on,” they said. The accused, who has been remanded to judicial custody for 15 days, is said to be mentally unstable, the SP said.  ]]>