Kargil War Veteran NK Shivananda Reddy Attempts Suicide Over Land Grant Delay in Karnataka

A Kargil War veteran from Karnataka is being treated in Bengaluru after allegedly consuming poison, in an episode that has renewed scrutiny of a land-allotment promise he says has remained unresolved for more than two decades. Naik (Retired) N.K. Shivananda Reddy, 58, from Rayapalli village in Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapur district, was admitted to a private hospital after the late-August incident, which his family and supporters link to prolonged frustration over pending benefits due to him as a disabled ex-serviceman.

Reddy joined the Indian Army in October 1987 and served with the Maratha Light Infantry across several operational areas, including the Kashmir Valley, Poonch, Nowshera, Gujarat and Punjab. During the 1999 Kargil conflict, while on night patrol in the Poonch sector, he and four other soldiers reportedly fell into a 50-foot gorge. He suffered serious fractures to both legs, underwent major surgeries in Udaipur and Pune, and was left with a permanent limp.

He was discharged with full retirement benefits and, according to the source material, an official recommendation for a land grant under the provisions applicable to injured ex-servicemen. Some earlier reports had said he was medically retired in 2000 after 17 years of service, but the more detailed accounts place his discharge in 2004. That distinction is part of the patchwork of reporting around a case that has stretched across years and multiple administrations.

Since leaving service, Reddy has been seeking agricultural land, reportedly two hectares in or near Chintamani, along with other entitlements linked to his military service. He is said to have made repeated representations to local legislators, ministers, the Chief Minister’s office, the Deputy Commissioner and the Tahsildar. He also staged protests, sit-ins and padayatras outside government offices in an effort to push his case forward.

In 2022, Reddy approached the Karnataka Lokayukta with a complaint alleging that officials had demanded Rs 10 lakh to process his land file. The complaint led to the arrest of three people, including two government employees. Reddy later alleged that the file had been deliberately stalled in retaliation. Revenue officials, however, have maintained that no suitable land was available in the Chintamani area and said this had been communicated to him. They also said earlier offers of two acres, which he rejected as uncultivable, and a residential site were declined.

In a letter to the Chintamani Tahsildar earlier this year, Reddy questioned whether it was really impossible to identify land for a disabled ex-serviceman after 26 years and asked whether serving the country had been a mistake. He also warned that authorities would be responsible for any “untoward incidents.”

There are differing accounts of what happened in the days leading up to the alleged poisoning and what triggered it. Some reports say Reddy consumed pesticide on 28 or 29 August at the Inspection Bungalow or Pravasi Mandir in Chintamani after a press conference in which he accused officials of apathy and corruption. Others say the act followed his being prevented by police from meeting Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara. His wife, Kanthamma, has alleged that he was detained and humiliated even after identifying himself as a Kargil veteran.

Reddy was first taken to a government hospital in the area and then shifted to Chikkaballapur district hospital. When his condition worsened, he was moved to Aster Hospital on Airport Road in Bengaluru, where he received emergency treatment and intensive care. Later reports said he had been transferred to a general ward and was recovering, though doctors had not yet declared him fit to give a statement. Police said they were waiting for medical clearance.

Authorities have said the case will be examined and the allotment process reviewed. Ex-servicemen’s organisations and members of the public have called for a swift resolution of pending entitlements for war-injured veterans and for accountability over delays. At the time of reporting, there was no detailed official statement from the state government or police on the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt.

The case has drawn attention to the way land-grant and rehabilitation schemes for disabled soldiers are implemented, and to the administrative delays that can persist long after military service ends. Reddy’s family and supporters continue to seek the land they say was identified for him, along with the other benefits they believe are still pending.

Disclaimer: This report contains references to an attempted suicide. Suicide and self-harm are serious matters, and such actions should never be viewed as a solution to personal, financial, legal, or administrative difficulties. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or having thoughts of self-harm, please seek immediate support from family, trusted individuals, mental health professionals, or emergency services. In India, you can contact Tele-MANAS at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 for mental health support.