Why aajtak Spiked on Google Trends After Belagavi Double Murder Coverage

What happened in Belagavi on 16 September 2026

According to the AajTak report, former soldier Rudrappa Kundergi (67) and his daughter Shashikala (26) were attacked inside the gram‑panchayat office of Avaradi village while they were submitting documents related to a 38‑gunta agricultural land dispute [source]. Police said the attackers were the victim’s brothers Basappa and Sangappa Kundergi and nephew Madivalappa Kundergi, who allegedly used machetes and other sharp weapons. When the father was assaulted, the daughter rushed to protect him and was also targeted [source]. The car driver suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized, and the daughter’s friend Rahul (from Shivgiri, Dharwad) was also attacked and taken to hospital [source]. Panchayat staff recorded video of the assault, which later became evidence for the investigation.

Details from the AajTak article

The AajTak story, updated at 7:16 PM IST on 16 September 2026, noted that both victims died on the spot and that police had launched an investigation based on the video footage and eyewitness statements [source]. It also highlighted that a court had previously ordered the disputed 38‑gunta land to be divided among three parties, a fact that relatives said fueled the conflict [source].

Google Trends shows a 75% rise in searches for aajtak

Google Trends India recorded a 75% increase in searches for the term “aajtak” during the past 24 hours observed on 17 September 2026 [source]. The trend snapshot notes that the figure reflects approximate search activity and does not measure ReadMeFeed visits, but it confirms a clear surge in public interest in the news brand.

Why the coverage drove nationwide interest

The combination of a violent crime, clear video evidence, and a prominent land‑dispute angle made the story highly shareable. As AajTak’s coverage appeared early in the day, users across India turned to the platform for updates, causing a spike in brand‑related searches. This explains why the term aajtak trended on Google Trends India on 16‑17 September 2026, reflecting the public’s desire to access the breaking news rather than any unrelated event.