Group clash: 1 killed, 3 injured in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: A 20-year-old youth was brutally assaulted and murdered while three of his associates were injured when two groups clashed over an old rivalry in Kolur Kundalapura under Taverekere police station limits on Thursday night. The deceased, identified as Dhanush, is a resident of Janata Colony in Ganapathinagar in Taverekere.

The injured, Charan, 23, Puneet, 19, and Bharath 21, were undergoing treatment at a private hospital, the police said. All the victims, including the deceased, were friends and associates of one Kiran, 23, who runs a gym and a resident of Thigalrupalaya. According to the police, Kiran had a running feud with one Mohan Kumar, 24. Mohan’s maternal uncle Hucchakalappa, 33, is a rowdy sheeter in Kengeri police sub-division and both Mohan’s and Kiran’s friends used to fight over trivial issues.

They had run into problems even while one gang was playing volleyball in their area, the police said. Most of the youths of the two groups have studied at the Government First Grade College in Kengeri and knew each other. Problems started when cousins of Mohan Kumar had eve-teased some girls at the college and Kiran had intervened and warned them. A month ago, Mohan Kumar and Hucchakallappa along with few other associates assaulted Kiran in front of his house. Kiran’s mother had lodged a complaint with the Taverekere police. The police booked Mohan, Hucchakallappa and others and sent them to jail.

Last week, they had come out on bail and threatened Kiran’s family members to withdraw the complaint, but they refused. Around 30 youths, all friends and associates of Mohan Kumar and Hucchakallappa, arrived at Kiran’s gym.

The gang came armed and asked around for Kiran, who was attending a phone call on the terrace. Kiran’s friends Dhanush, Charan, Puneet and Bharath tried to reason with Hucchakallappa and others. They started assaulting Kiran’s four friends with sharp edged weapons and Dhanush died on the spot, the police said. By then a crowd had gathered and a call was made to the police control room. As Kiran was on the terrace of a single-storied building, he jumped and fled the spot. The police arrived and dispersed the crowd. The injured were shifted to the hospital and Dhanush’s body was taken to RR Hospital for post-mortem. Police has registered a case.