Hunasur : The dreams of a Dalit youth to lead a self reliant life were shattered when as many as 86 sheep perished  and pulses, clothes and cash  were destroyed in a  fire in Kattemalalavadi village of the taluk  on March 17 night.

It is suspect that it was an act of miscreants. The fire was noticed at around 12 midnight in the hutment of Raja in the local Dalit colony. As many as 86 sheep were  burnt to death in the fire. Even the hut of Ramesh  was  gutted and paddy stocks were  destroyed in the fire. The loss has been estimated at around Rs 5 lakhs.

It is said that this is the second time that miscreants targeted the area. The poor families are in a state of shock following the incident. Though villagers had rushed to help, by the time the fire was brought under control, the fire had destroyed the  huts and the shed Raju, his wife and mother Gauramma  who had fought to  douse the fire, are being treated at the local government hospital.

A complaint has been lodged in the rural police station and investigations are underway.  Tahsildar Venkatachalappa, DySP Nanjunda, Circle Inspector Gajendra Prasad and SI Raghavendra Gowda rushed to the spot.