Illegal electric fencing claims two lives in Chamarajanagar
Chamarajanagar: In a tragic incident, two men were electrocuted after coming into contact with an illegally installed electric fence in Kottalavadi village of Chamarajanagar taluk on Monday.
According to police sources, the victims — identified as Swami and Krishna — had gone to a field to pluck fruits when they accidentally touched a live wire connected to an illegal power line laid to ward off wild animals. Both died on the spot due to the high-voltage shock.
The incident occurred in a field owned by one Prakash, where agricultural land had been leased out to a group from Kerala. To protect crops from wild animal menace, the tenants had reportedly installed an illegal power connection around the field.
Police said the electricity was drawn directly from the main supply without authorization, creating a deadly trap around the farmland. When the victims entered the area for farm work, they came into contact with the charged fencing and were instantly electrocuted.
Local villagers who rushed to the spot after hearing about the mishap found the two men lying motionless. The bodies were later shifted to Chamarajanagar district hospital for postmortem examination.
Authorities have taken serious note of the negligence. A case has been registered at the Chamarajanagar Rural Police Station, and an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for setting up the illegal electric line.
Officials from the electricity department have also begun a probe to assess the extent of unauthorized power tapping in the region. They warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found guilty of illegal power use that endangers human life.
Illegal electric fencing has been a recurring problem in rural parts of Karnataka, where farmers, in an attempt to protect their crops from wild boars and elephants, often connect fences directly to live electrical lines. Such practices have led to multiple fatalities across the state in recent years.
District authorities have once again urged farmers to use solar-powered or authorized electric fencing systems instead of hazardous illegal connections.
The deaths of Swami and Krishna have cast a pall of gloom over Kottalavadi village, with locals demanding strict action against those responsible for the fatal negligence.
