Karnataka legislator shot at by nephew

Congress legislator and chairman of one ofKarnataka’s leading education trusts Prabhakar Korewas shot at and critically wounded by his nephew atAnkali village near Belgaum on Thursday.

But, doctors, who had successfully removed two out the three bullets lodged in his abdomen area at KLEHospital in Belgaum by Friday afternoon, expressed confidence that the Congress MLC would survive the attack.

Prabhakar Kore, 59, who is also the Chairman of theKLE Society, which runs a chain of educational institutions in Karnataka, was on a visit to his native Ankali village on Thursday for the Deepavali festival. His wife, daughters and son were scheduled to join him later.

But, when Kore was inspecting to the construction workat the Mayura theatre he owned, his 45-year-old nephewJagadish Kore arrived there and picked up a quarrelwith him over property disputes. During the heated arguments, Jagadish Kore pointed a loaded revolver at Prabhakar Kore.

But, Prabhakar chided Jagadish for being “childish” and started walking away. Immediately, an incensed Jagadish Kore fired four bullets at Prabhakar Kore’s back from close range. Three bullets pierced his body and Kore collapsed. Immediately, Prabhakar Kore was shifted to the nearby Government hospital in Chikkodi.

Later, he was rushed to KLE Hospital in Belgaum. By Friday afternoon, the doctors had removed two out of the three bullets and declared him out of danger. A press statement issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum said Prabhakar Kore was out of danger.

Meanwhile, the police arrested the Jagadish Kore in Chikkodi and took him away for interrogation. The attack on Kore, a veteran Congress leader, spread like wild fire not only in Belgaum, but also the restof the State with a large number of people expressing their shock and praying for his early recovery.

Korewas in the spotlight recently for playing a key-role in the successful conduct of Legislature session in Belgaum. For many, it was a grim reminder of the attack onsenior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan a couple of months ago.

NARROW ESCAPE FOR KIN: Prabhakar Kore’s family memberstoo had a narrow escape when the vehicle they were traveling to reach Chikkodi from Belgaum turned turtle.

Police said the vehicle carrying Kore’s wife Sujata,daughters’s Deepti and Preeti, son Amit and KLE Hospital’s Medical Director Dr M V Jali suffered a tyre burst, leading to its overturning on the national highway. “The vehicle overturned thrice. Fortunately,none of us suffered any serious injuries”, Dr Jali told reporters later.