BJP dalit leader shot dead after fight over fishing at lake near Attibele

Bengaluru: In yet another killing of a BJP worker in Anekal taluk, the vice president of BJP’s SC/ST morcha of Anekal block was found murdered in Attibele on the city outskirts late Wednesday.

The police suspect an old rivalry could be the reason for the crime, as few days ago the victim had a fight with another person over an issue.

The deceased has been identified as Harish, 38, a resident of Heelalige village in Attibele of Anekal taluk.

According to the police, Harish was found murdered near Heelalige village gate at around 11.15 pm. The assailants had attacked him while he was going home on a bike.

They threw chilli powder on his face and then stabbed him over 10 times with a dagger. They also smashed his head using a hollow block.

“On Wednesday, Harish had distributed invitation cards of his relative’s wedding and gone to Bengaluru to purchase new clothes. He returned home around 8.45 pm and had again gone out. While returning home, the murder took place. His brother Jagadish, had state in his complaint that Harish had scolded three brothers over fishing in a lake in the village, 3-4 days ago. He has alleged that the brothers - Rajesh, Sandeep and Santosh - were nursing a grudge against Harish over the issue. They killed him with the help of their associates Kishore, Karthik and others,” the police said.

Following the incident, the relatives and supporters of Harish set the house of the alleged accused brothers on fire. They also vandalised the house of other accused. The police deployed additional staff in the village to contain the situation. The Suryanagar police have registered a murder case. 

Third in a year
In the last one year this is the third such incident of murder of BJP activist in Anekal taluk. In June 2016, Ashwath, the vice-president of Nergi Gram Panchayat, was murdered in Sarjapura police station limits. On March 13, BJP member of Bommasandra Town Municipal Council and Dalit leader, Srinivas Prasad alias Kithaganahalli Vasu was hacked to death.

Arrested Accused tries to flee, shot at by police 
In a swift operation, the police managed to arrest the main accused in the case, Rajesh alias Raju. Sources said that he was arrested around 4 pm near Anekal.

When the police questioned him about the other absconding accused, he told the police that he was supposed to meet his associates Subhash and Karthik near an eucalyptus grove at Muthyala Maduvu falls near Anekal, from where they had planned to escape to Tamil Nadu.  Based on his revelation, a police team took him near the falls around 9.15 pm. Meanwhile, Anekal sub inspector Hemanth Kumar reportedly accidentally slipped. Taking advantage, Rajesh allegedly rolled the handcuff chain around the PSI’s neck. Though the police tried to overpower him, he allegedly again started tightening the chain against the PSI’s neck. In self defence, DySP Bengaluru Rural sub division S.K. Umesh fired a warning shot, but it did not deter the accused. Later, he shot a bullet in his left thigh and rescued the PSI. The accused has been admitted to Victoria Hospital.