Belthangady: Son disowned by father seeks justice

 

Belthangady, 12 Jan 2015: In a heart wrenching incident reported from Belthangady, a father who had allegedly tortured and abandoned his son long ago was traced in Dharmasthala on Sunday, January 11.

 

The youth identified as Annappa (21), son of Siddarth Aiyar, resident of Chikmagalur was found in the temple premises along with Aiyappa devotees. When the locals along with police interrogated the youth, he is said to have revealed the dark side of his life which left everyone perplexed.

 

According to Annappa, his father had abandoned him after the death of his mother when he was just two-year-old. Annappa, who was then taken to Bengaluru by some relatives completed his BBM from National College. After his studies he started working at Horanaadu temple as a computer operator for a monthly salary of Rs 8,000.

 

Upon receiving the information about his son working in the temple, the heartless father is said to have brought him home forcefully and tortured him which also included giving electric shock. As a result Annappa lost his ability to speak.

 

Not only this, the step mother along with her husband left Annappa in an orphanage in Bengaluru. On January 6, the family along with five others took Annappa to Shabarimala on the pretext of offering pooja and deserted him at the temple premises.

 

Distraught Annappa, who approached the information center at Shabarimala was sent back to Karnataka along with other Aiyappa devotees from Honnavar.

 

The devotees who reached Dharmasthala on Sunday, met Dhamadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade and explained him the situation. Annappa who was later handed over to the Belthangady police station gave a written complaint and also urged the police not to send him back to his parents’ house as they were conspiring to kill him to have control over his property.

 

Speaking to Dakshina Kannada District SP Dr Sharanappa D said that Annappa would be immediately shifted to a hospital for treatment and further investigations will be carried out by the police.