Chittapur
A tragic incident near Konchur Diggi Tanda in Chittapur taluk of Kalaburagi district claimed the life of a young boy identified as Ritesh, after he drowned in a water-filled pit close to a railway track. The pit, reportedly created due to soil excavation and left uncovered near the railway line about a kilometre from the tanda, had filled with rainwater and become a frequent bathing spot for local children.
On Wednesday, Ritesh had gone to the site along with his friends. While initially playing in shallow water, he reportedly moved into a deeper section of the pit and was unable to return to safety. He drowned despite attempts by nearby children to alert villagers. Locals rushed to the spot and recovered the body before informing authorities.
Officials including the Chittapur Tahsildar and Wadi police visited the site and conducted an inspection. The body was shifted for postmortem, and a case has been registered at Wadi Police Station.
Following the incident, villagers staged a protest that lasted several hours, placing the body at the site and demanding compensation for the family. They also sought strict action against the contractor responsible for leaving the excavation pit unsecured.
Tensions escalated as police and revenue officials attempted to persuade the villagers to perform the last rites. Protesters refused, insisting on official compensation announcements. The agitation continued overnight with temporary tents set up at the protest site.
Police later detained a local leader who was supporting the protest, citing law and order concerns, further intensifying tensions in the area. Investigation into the incident is underway.
