Bengaluru: Three booked for killing fruit vendor

BENGALURU: The Thalaghattapura police have arrested three people who had allegedly murdered a fruit vendor. Investigations revealed that the deceased had allegedly smashed the windshield of the car belonging to one of the accused and had refused to give him money.

The accused have been identified as Jabiulla, 37, Tanveer Pasha alias Tannu, 28, both residents of Harinagar on Kothanur Main Road, and Naveen alias Tata Ace Naveena, 27, of Anjanapura. 

They have been accused of murdering K.M. Rahmathullah, 32, a resident of Avalahalli BDA Layout in JP Nagar. The incident took place on Friday night near his residence.

According to the police, investigations following the murder revealed that the accused, Jabiulla, had a Hyundai Verna car and had parked it in front of his brother’s scrapyard in Harinagar. 

The accused Jabiulla, Naveen and Tanveer

Eight days prior to the murder, Rahmathullah, who had consumed alcohol and was not in his senses, had reportedly damaged the car by smashing its windshield with a stone and had also damaged the doors. 

Elders in the community had held a meeting and had asked Rahmathullah to bear the cost of the repair work and give money in advance to Jabiulla.

“But Rahmathullah was dodging Jabiualla everyday and whenever he asked for money, he used to give lame reasons. Jabiulla had also gone to Rahmathullah’s house and had asked for the money but Rahmathullah picked up a fight with him saying he wouldn’t pay up. 

So Jabiulla hatched a plot to murder him. On Rahmathullah’s birthday on Friday, he was partying with his friends when the accused attacked him around 9.30 pm. 

They hacked him to death with lethal weapons. Based on credible information, the accused trio was nabbed near Gottigere off Bannerghatta Road. 

The car and weapons used for the offence were seized. “Another accused is absconding, we are on the lookout for him,” the police added.