Kargil veteran attempts suicide over delay in land allotment in Karnataka

A Kargil war veteran, Shivananda Reddy, allegedly attempted suicide in Chikkaballapura, Karnataka, after facing a 26-year delay in land allotment promised for his military service. Reddy, who served in the Maratha Light Infantry and was injured during the war, consumed pesticide out of frustration.

Chikkaballapura (Karnataka): A Kargil war veteran war attempted suicide after alleged prolonged delay in allotting him land despite pursuing the matter for over two decades, police said on Wednesday.

The incident was reported on August 28 in the premises of Inspection Bungalow in Chintamani taluk of this district, they said.

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According to officials, retired serviceman Shivananda Reddy, who served in the Maratha Light Infantry and was injured during the Kargil War, allegedly consumed pesticide out of frustration over the prolonged delay in allotting him land that had reportedly been recommended for him in recognition of his military service.

Reddy is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bengaluru. His statement is yet to be recorded as doctors have not yet declared him fit to give a statement, a senior police officer said.

He joined the Indian Army in 1987, officials said.

In his letter addressed to Chintamani Tahsildar earlier this year, the ex-serviceman had sought allotment of two hectares of land, alleging that authorities had failed to provide him land despite his request pending for 26 years.

“Was it not possible to identify land for a disabled ex-serviceman who has been seeking it for 26 years,” he asked in the letter.

Reddy said he had served in the Indian Army and questioned whether it was his mistake to have served the country.

He urged the Tahsildar to allot the suitable land that had already been identified for him.

In the letter, Reddy also warned that the authorities would be responsible for any “untoward incidents” that may occur if his demand was not addressed.