Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070960771000.htm

Karnataka

Haveri firing toll rises to two

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The toll in the firing on farmers at Haveri on June 10 rose to two with another farmer dying of injuries at the Sanjay Gandhi Accident Hospital and Research Institute here in the early hours of Tuesday.

Puttappa Honnatti (43), who received serious bullet injuries in the firing, died around 4.30 a.m. from complications arising out of septicaemia.

A critically injured Mr. Honnatti had been on artificial respirator for some time, and his health deteriorated in the past one-and-a-half days, hospital sources said. Mr. Honnatti was one of the 13 injured when police opened fire on a group of farmers protesting against the scarcity of fertilizers in Haveri, in which a farmer, Siddalingappa Choori, was killed on the spot.

According to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital Director Govindraju, the deceased had extensive gunshot injuries as the bullet tore through his intestine, pancreas and lower spinal chord — the last leaving him paralysed.

Funeral at village

The funeral of the farmer, Puttappa Honnatti was held at Nelogal in the evening. The whole village turned out for the funeral. The government was represented by Ministers C.M. Udasi and Basavaraj Bommai. Members of various organisations, including the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, were present.