The recent attack on notorious gangster Bhagappa Harijan is a throwback to the violent decades of rivalries between gangs from two villages on either banks of the Bhima River. Murders for revenge have been happening over generations. Will this cycle ever end?
BYADAGIHAAL VILLAGE (VIJAYAPURA DT): Once you cross the small town of Almel in Vijayapura district, you could just miss the sign board on the left hand side. Turning off the highway, that leads to the famous Bhima river bridge which stands witness to bloody murders between the 1990s and 2000, a small road leads to Byadagihaal village, where one of the most notorious gangsters of the region, Bhagappa Harijan, was born. With 600 voters and a population of about 1,000-plus, the village is located about 100 km from Vijayapura.
The gangster is now fighting for his life in a hospital in Hyderabad after five bullets were pumped into him by an unidentified assailant on August 8 at the district court premises in Vijayapura city. While there is talk that the gangster may not recover from his injuries, there are many in his village who believe that Bhagappa could bounce back.
Ever since the shooting incident, Byadagihaal wears a deserted look and several men from the village, especially those close to Bhagappa, have gone missing fearing police action. A local godman has been on a fast in a temple on the banks of the Bhima river on the outskirts of the village. The villagers happily offer the ‘prasad’ of the ritual, but do not dare talk anything related to Bhagappa.
Early Days of Bhagappa
The gang wars in Bhima region finds their roots in a rift between two villages -- Sonna and Devangaon -- located on either bank of the river, over issues pertaining to land. In the later years, the rift led to gang wars and the revenge killings continue even today in these parts of North Karnataka.
Over the last two decades, 45-year-old Bhagappa has spread terror in the region along with his gang. He committed his first murder in his village when he was in his early 20s. Over a petty issue, he dragged out one of the Hasangihaal family members from his house and made him stand in the middle of the village square. He drew a circle, known as ‘mandala’, around the man and dared the huge crowd that had gathered to rescue the man. Bhagappa then emptied all the bullets from his gun into his victim and walked out of the village.
After committing the murder, Bhagappa went to Chandrappa Sharanappa Harijan alias Chandappa alias Chandya, who was the most notorious gang leader in parts of Hyderabad-Karnataka and Maharashtra, and sought shelter. Many mistook Chandappa and Bhagappa to be brothers. They were not related but came from the same caste background. Chandappa accepted Bhagappa as part of the gang and provided him with weapons and training. Till 2000, the gang committed numerous crimes in the region and managed to escape from police and from jails on many occasions. But the equation among the gang members changed after Chandappa was shot down by the police in an encounter at his residence in Dhotri village in Maharashtra. By then, the other important gang leaders, Tawarkhed and Borgi, too had died of various causes.
Post Chandappa’s Encounter
Bhagappa’s life took a turn after Chandappa’s death in 2000 as the differences between the relatives of Chandappa and Bhagappa increased. After Chandappa’s death, Bhagappa demanded possession of property, money and weapons from the latter’s relatives. But Chandappa’s brother Basavaraj and son-in-law Mutturaj, who was working as a teacher in Bilagi taluk, refused to part with money.
Soon, both Bhagappa and Mutturaj started plotting to kill each other, but did not reveal their plans. After a few days, the elders of the community decided to call a meeting between Mutturaj and
Bhagappa to bring about truce.
Accordingly, Mutturaj arrived at the designated place, only to realise he had walked into a trap set up Bhagappa as there were no elders from his community there. Before he could remove his weapon, he was shot by Bhagappa and fell to the ground. Bhagappa then tortured Mutturaj for information about the money and weapons hidden by Chandappa and his other relatives. After getting the details, Bhagappa dumped Mutturaj’s body in his car and left the scene. Surprisingly, no complaint was registered against anyone.
Time For Revenge
The murder of Mutturaj angered the other members of Chandappa’s gang. But Chandappa’s brother Basavaraj decided to wait for an opportune moment to finish off Bhagappa and his relatives. When Basavaraj and his gang learnt that two relatives of Bhagappa would be travelling near Rampur village in Sindagi taluk, Basavaraj and his men dug up the road and lay in wait for them near a bridge. The duo, who were on a motorcycle, slowed down upon seeing the road dug up. Basavaraj and his gang immediately pounced on them and started shooting at them, killing one on the spot and the other in a field after chasing him for about 500 mts.
Shocked by the brutal murders, Bhagappa left the village and was holed up in Mumbai.
With Bhagappa gone from Sindagi, Basavaraj started building his own gang. He even organised events and visited functions with his gang, openly flaunting weapons. Once, Basavaraj called up the cast and crew of the film ‘Bhima Teeradalli’ and invited them over for a function which he had organised in Vijayapura. The movie is based on the dreaded crimes committed by trio of Chandrappa Harijan, Shivaji Borgi and Keshappa Tawarkhed.
Bhagappa Avenges Murders
The grand days of Basavaraj came to an end after Bhagappa returned from Maharashtra in 2004. Ten years later, Bhagappa took a close aide of Basavaraj into confidence and hatched a plan to murder Basavaraj. He got the aide to call up Basavaraj over phone asking to meet him near Ambedkar Circle in Bommanahalli village. Not sensing any foul play, Basavaraj arrived there dressed in his lungi and vest. All of a sudden, there was a blackout and Bhagappa shot Basavaraj. Just to make sure, he also slit Basavaraj’s throat. The murder put an end to the gang wars.
Flashy lifestyle
Though the police have arrested seven people in connection with the case, they are yet to arrest the shooter. Police also suspect that some of Bhagappa’s associates may not have been happy with his lavish lifestyle. Bhagappa is known to flaunt his wealth, wearing heavy gold jewellery, sporting new cars, weapons and bodyguards. His second wife, who recently gave birth to a child in Vijayapura, was staying in Hubballi for a few years. Her lifestyle in Hubballi was also talk of the town -- she had two gun-toting guards at her doorstep round the clock and swanky car at her disposal. It is said that Bhagappa has two daughters from his first marriage.
His first marriage too was no less dramatic. When Bhagappa returned to his village after many years, he went to the house of his woman friend. When he came to know that she had been married off just the previous day, he drove off in his jeep to her village. Surprisingly, even before Bhagappa could enter her house, the new bride walked out to go with Bhagappa. When her husband resisted, Bhagappa held a gun to his head and let go only when the woman intervened.
‘Fall’ of Bhagappa and Rise of Razak
According to police, Razak is the newest gang lord in the Bhima region. It is said that Razak’s brother was once a part of Chandappa Harijan’s gang. When Bhagappa and Mutturaj split after Chandappa’s encounter, Razak took Mutturaj’s side. Police believe that Razak may have a gang of 100 men from different parts of Vijayapura and Kalaburagi. They have arrested Razak and six others in connection with the shooting of Bhagappa.
Profiling the gangsters
Chandappa Harijan
The most dreaded of all the gangsters of Bhima river banks, he lorded over the region for more than a decade. He was killed at his house in Dhotri village of Maharashtra in 2000
Keshappa Tawarkhed
A prominent member of Borgi’s gang, he remains an aide of Chandappa Harijan till the end. He and others of the gang had killed budding politicans like Chollappa Gowda. He died due to illness in Bengaluru
Shivaji Borgi
The younger brother of Siddappa Borgi, he avenges the death of his brother. Along with Chandappa and Tawarkhed, he ruled the region for more than a decade
Manikkappa Master
He was the main member of the gang from Sonna village. Due to political divide Manekappa Mastar and his two sons got involved in murders and other crimes. He was shot dead by Chandappa and others in Vijayapura, Maharashtra in 2000
Aminsaab Avate
People say his role in the crimes in the region have been misinterpreted. For some, he was someone who would play a double game, but locals in Sindhagi talk high of him. He was killed by Chandappa and his associates outside the Sindhagi court
Siddappa Borgi
A landlord of Devangoan gets into a rift with the villagers of Sonna located on the other bank of Bheema river. He is abducted and killed by his rival gang headed by one Manekappa Master