A disturbing incident has emerged from the Chikhabballapur district in Karnataka state: a former serviceman who fought for the country in the Kargil War allegedly attempted to commit suicide by ingesting poison. It is reported that he had been struggling for a long time to secure a piece of land. Currently, his condition is assessed as critical, and he is receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital.
Shivanand Reddy served in the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army and took part in combat operations on the front during the Kargil War. During the conflict, he sustained a leg injury but continued military service. However, after nearly two decades, the issue of land allotment became a serious struggle for him.
According to available information, there are government provisions for allotting land to eligible veterans. Shivanand Reddy was also pursuing land based on these provisions, claiming he had continuously tried to resolve this issue for approximately 20 years. After the problem remained unresolved for so long, he reportedly took this step.
It is reported that Shivanand Reddy was previously offered two different plots of land. Nevertheless, he refused these lands. Reddy's demand was for land that met his expectations. This land requirement remained a subject of dispute for a long time.
In the midst of this dispute, Shivanand Reddy allegedly ingested a toxic substance and attempted to take his own life. Following the incident, he was hospitalized for treatment at a private hospital. Given his critical condition, he was placed in intensive care, and treatment is ongoing under medical supervision.
Shivanand Reddy's case is not limited to just the land dispute; it also calls into question the state guarantees provided to veterans and their implementation. On one hand, he sustained a leg injury fighting for the country in the Kargil War, and on the other hand, he had to fight for land for about 20 years. Now, following his suicide attempt, this issue has once again come into the spotlight.