Bhatkal(DHNS): Haduvalli village in Bhatkal taluk where four members of a family were murdered over a property dispute recently is yet to recover from the shocking incident.

The police intensified the investigation and initially took Vidya Shridhar Bhat (deceased Shambhu Bhat’s first daughter-in-law) and her father Shridhar Janardhan Bhat of Halyani into custody for inquiry. On Sunday, her brother Vinay Shridhar Bhat, the main accused, was traced near Shivamogga. The vehicle of the accused was found near Kargal in Sagar taluk on Saturday.

Dispute over lake

As per some family sources, “Shambu Bhat’s elder son Shridhar Bhat passed away six months back. His widow Vidya continued staying in her in-laws’ place after that. However, her brother Vijay often came to her house asking for a share in the property for his sister. Upset over this, Shambhu Bhat divided his property among his two sons, three daughters, and himself. But there was a dispute about not all of them getting a lake as their property share.

Superintendent of Police N Vishnuvardhan said that the murder case is being investigated from all angles including property row.