Vehicles torched over property dispute at Ammathi

Madikeri: Property dispute between brothers led to one of them setting ablaze two vehicles at Ammathi yesterday. It is learnt that there were frequent quarrels between the brothers identified as M.K. Vishwanath and M.K. Chittiappa over the property and Vishwanath was taking care of the estate since many years. But suddenly, Chittiappa who came to the estate with some labourers yesterday, began harvesting coffee seeds grown by Vishwanath. When Vishwanath questioned him, wordy duel ensued between the two resulting in Chittiappa allegedly attempting to assault Vishwanath with a stick. Later, Chittiappa poured petrol over a jeep (KA-12-P-3380) and a Maruti Omni (KA-12-M-4715) belonging to Vishwanath’s co-brother and set the vehicles ablaze and fled from the spot. Vishwanath and the locals who saw the vehicles on fire, tried to douse them and later informed the Fire Brigade personnel at Gonikoppal, who rushed to the spot and doused the fire. The vehicles were partly charred. The incident led to tense situation for sometime  on  Siddapura-Ammathi road. Circle Inspector Kumar Aradhya, Virajpet Rural Sub Inspector Suresh Bopanna and staff, who visited the spot, conducted mahazar, registered a case and are investigating.