Bagalkot, Aug. 14 -- The recent car blast in Hippargi village of Jamkhandi taluk was not an accident but an alleged attempt to eliminate bar manager Hanamant Athani, the police said after arresting four people in connection with the case.

The accused have been identified as Shivanand Parasappa Jalli, 29, Revanappa Ningappa Jalli, 24, Mahadev Beerappa Sangapur, 21, and Mallikarjun Murageppa Bhadrapanavar, 23. All four are from Babaleshwar taluk in Vijayapura district. Gajanan Sangapur, a relative of Shivanand who allegedly helped arrange the explosive material, is absconding.

Police said the conspiracy was rooted in a dispute over money and land. Shivanand's uncle Ningappa had reportedly borrowed Rs 40 lakh from Hanamant. Following the f...