Bengaluru / Chintamani, September 3, 2026 — Naik (Retired) N.K. Shivananda Reddy, a 58-year-old Kargil War veteran from Rayapalli village in Chintamani taluk of Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru after allegedly consuming poison in late August. The incident followed more than two decades of unsuccessful efforts to secure land allotment and related entitlements promised in recognition of his military service.
Reddy joined the Indian Army in October 1987 and served with the Maratha Light Infantry in 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 fellow soldiers slipped into a 50-foot gorge. He sustained severe fractures to both legs, underwent major surgeries in Udaipur and Pune, and was left with a permanent limp. He was discharged in 2004 with full retirement benefits and an official recommendation for a land grant under provisions applicable to injured ex-servicemen.
Some earlier reports placed his medical retirement in 2000 after 17 years of service; the more detailed accounts align the discharge with 2004. Since then, Reddy has pursued agricultural land—reportedly two hectares in or near Chintamani—along with other veteran benefits. He submitted repeated representations to local legislators, ministers, the Chief Minister’s office, the Deputy Commissioner and the Tahsildar, and organised protests, sit-ins and padayatras outside government offices.
In 2022 he filed a complaint with the Karnataka Lokayukta alleging that officials demanded Rs 10 lakh to process his land file. Three persons, including two government employees, were arrested. Reddy later alleged that the file was stalled in retaliation. Revenue officials have stated that no suitable land was available in the Chintamani area, that this was communicated to him, and that 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 asked whether it had been impossible to identify land for a disabled ex-serviceman after 26 years and questioned whether serving the country had been a mistake. He warned that authorities would bear responsibility for any “untoward incidents.”
Reports differ on the precise date and immediate trigger. Some accounts state that Reddy consumed pesticide on 28 or 29 August at the Inspection Bungalow or Pravasi Mandir in Chintamani after a press conference in which he alleged official apathy and corruption. Others link the act to 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 despite identifying himself as a Kargil veteran.
Reddy was first taken to a local government hospital, then to Chikkaballapur district hospital. When his condition worsened he was shifted to Aster Hospital on Airport Road in Bengaluru, where he received emergency and intensive care. Later reports indicated he had been moved to a general ward and was recuperating, though doctors had not yet declared him fit to record a statement. Police said they were awaiting 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 swift resolution of pending entitlements for war-injured veterans and accountability for delays. No detailed official statement from the state government or police on the circumstances of the attempt had been issued at the time of reporting.
The episode has drawn attention to the implementation of land-grant and rehabilitation schemes for disabled soldiers and the administrative bottlenecks that can persist for years after service. Reddy’s family and supporters continue to press for the land he maintains was identified for him and for other pending benefits.
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.
