Ex-village head killed over unpaid loan, say suspects
Bheemanagouda Biradar, ex-president of a local gram panchayat, was shot dead while getting a haircut in Devar Nimbargi village, Vijayapura district.
Four masked men attacked by throwing chili powder at the barber and then shot Biradar four times at close range. He died later in hospital.
The suspects—Wasim Maniyar, Razivulla Makanadar, Moulasab Borgi, and Firoz Sheikh—surrendered to police and admitted to the murder, citing revenge for being cheated by Biradar in several ways, including an alleged unpaid ₹1 lakh for a promised government house.
Police are also investigating political rivalry as a possible motive.
Biradar's wife suspects political rivalry motive
Biradar's wife believes the killing was actually payback for his role in sending Zakir Maniyar (a political rival and brother of accused Wasim) to jail last year for casteist remarks.
With Biradar having led the local council for 10 years and planning to appoint his own successor, police are now looking into possible political motives behind the murder.