According to police, the Nirale family had purchased around 25 acres of agricultural land in Govindpur village six months ago.

Six people, including five members of a family, were killed in a brutal attack linked to a property dispute in Govindpur village of Chadchan taluk in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district on Friday evening, police said.

The victims were identified as Chetan Nirale, Revansiddappa Nirale, Dundappa Revansiddappa Nirale, Shivaputra Revansiddappa Nirale, Chandrashekhar Nirale and Shabbir Nadaf. Police said five of the deceased belonged to the Nirale family, while Nadaf was reportedly associated with them.

According to police, the Nirale family had purchased around 25 acres of agricultural land in Govindpur village six months ago despite opposition from a relative of the Golagi family. The land purchase had reportedly triggered a dispute with Golagi family, leading to tensions that had continued for months.

On Saturday, they had arrived at the property to clear the land for agricultural activities when a confrontation allegedly broke out between the two sides. Police said the victims were at the farmland, allegedly preparing it for cultivation, when they were attacked by a group of 15 to 20 assailants armed with sharp weapons, including machetes. The attackers also allegedly used chilli powder during the assault.

During the clash, the victims were allegedly fired upon before being attacked with deadly weapons.

Shabbir Nadaf, a labourer who had come to the land for work, was also killed in the attack.

Senior police officers, including Vijayapura Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi, visited the crime scene. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order following the killings.

“We have registered a murder case. Officers of the Chadchan Police Station reached the spot and are investigating," Nimbargi said.