A farmer drowned after he fell into a well at Sajwani village in the district, allegedly after a scuffle with employees of the state-run Western Power Distribution Company Limited over recovery of his pending power dues, police said today.
After the incident which occurred yesterday and subsequent protest by locals, police today arrested six staffers of the power utility and booked them for causing death due to negligence.
"Shobharam Badhole, Sumer Singh, Govind Nihale, Vikram, Gendalal, Shivram and another person went to farmer Mohan Kag's place at Sajwani village for recovery of his power tariff dues yesterday.
"The accused tried to confiscate some belongings of Kag and in the process the two parties had a scuffle following which the farmer fell into a well and drowned," said Additional Superintendent of Police TS Baghel.
Kag's kin had accused the MPWPDCL staffers of pushing Kag in the well and staged a road blockade along with locals last evening.
"Today we booked the accused under section 304 A (causing death due to negligence) and arrested six of them," the ASP said, adding that search is on to arrest the seventh accused.
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Chikkaballapura DC Venkatesh M V has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to Kumar's family.
He said "district administration has also recommended 2 acres of land to his family, and his widow will be getting a pension of Rs 2,000 per month."
BJP has recommended hike in compensation.
Calling the Kumar's death as "unfortunate", Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said "such things should not happen, that's my request.
"For minor issues committing suicide, consuming poison is not a right thing," he told reporters in Mysuru.
