On February 17 evening, R.D. Veerappa, 58, a KSRTC driver, was found murdered at Rajanahalli in Alur taluk, Hassan district, Karnataka. He was attacked by unknown persons while returning from a court hearing about a land dispute. His body was burnt. Veerappa's son, Vivek R.V., filed a complaint naming some suspects, believed to be relatives involved in the property dispute. Veerappa was president of Hassan district KSRTC Employees' Federation and a member of CITU's district committee. Dharmesh, district president of CITU, expressed shock and urged police to arrest the accused immediately.