Hubballi: Dharwad suburban police officials have stepped up the investigation into the murder of Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gouda after his family handed over the threat letter sent to their house by an anonymous person.
The letter, which was reached to them on Monday, has stated that Ministers H.K. Patil and Vinay Kulkarni were behind the killing of his elder brother Udaya Gouda in 2000.
It has stated that Kulkarni is waiting for proper time to get Yogesh killed. The anonymous person also stated that there was no need to search for him and he will reveal everything at appropriate time by approaching the family members.
Police officials on Thursday interrogated several people in Morab and Hebballi villages to study various angles, including land mafia and political rivalry.
As many as 25 complaints were lodged against the slain BJP leader in connection with disrupting peace and out of them 16 were related to criminal complaints. His name was also included in rowdy-sheeter list in Dharwad rural and Navalgund police station.
Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar has alleged that the police officials have failed to provide security to the ZP member despite receiving a threat letter. He suspected political rivalry behind the murder and urged the government to order CBI probe.
“Police should nab the culprit as soon as possible by intensifying the probe. Law and order has totally collapsed in the State as such incidents are on the rise,” Shettar said.
