Research scholar ends life after tractor knocks down boy in Karnataka

MYSURU: A 26-year-old doctoral student allegedly ended his life after his tractor accidentally knocked down a five-year-old boy in Gundlupet of Chamarajanagar district on Thursday. Police said the student took the extreme step in Mysuru after rushing the boy to hospital in his village.
Police sources said Sunil, a research scholar in journalism who was in his village due to the lockdown, went to his friend’s house in Mysuru and took poison within hours of the accident. Sunil and the boy, Harsh, were related and both families are from Savakanahalli village in Gundlupet taluk, about 80km from Mysuru.

Jurisdictional Begur police said the accident occurred around 9.40am when Sunil and his two of his friends were flattening a piece of land with three tractors so that they could play games like cricket or football. Sunil’s tractor reportedly knocked down Harsha, who was watching the ground being prepared along with a few friends.
Harsha suffered grievous head injuries and Sunil drove the boy to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead. Sources said Sunil took a bus to Mysuru and took his life in the afternoon, a police officer said, adding the incident came to light around 3.45pm.
Harsha is survived by parents Muddu Mahadeva and Nagamani, and a nine-year-old brother. Sunil’s father is also a farmer.