BJP leader shoots himself dead in temple sanctum sanctorum

Kittur, Jul 19: In a shocking incident, a local BJP leader reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a licensed pistol in the sanctum sanctorum of a temple at Turakar Shigihalli village in Kittur taluk, Belagavi district, on Tuesday.

The man who chose a holy place to resort to such an extreme step is Shivangouda Basangouda Patil (53), a former vice president of BJP Kittur block,

Sources said that he woke up early in the morning and walked into the sanctum sanctorum of Girimalleshwar Temple near his home and shot himself in the head. Local residents rushed to the temple after hearing the unusual sound and were shocked to find Patil dead.

Patil was active in politics, and his suicide has shocked his friends and relatives alike. He is survived by his wife and four daughters, two of whom are married.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police B R Ravikante Gowda, Deputy Superintendent of Police Karunakar Shetty and other officers inspected the spot. Police have seized the pistol and bullet from the spot.

Gowda said they were investigating what drove Patil to suicide. Patil had taken loans from several banks but failed to repay them.

A case of unnatural death has been registered at the Kittur police station.