Kolar police arrested six persons who allegedly killed a 62-year-old Congress party leader and former zilla panchayat president on the outskirts of Srinivasapura town on October 23.
Police opened fire at two of the accused, identified as Venugopal and Munindra, after they allegedly attacked the police team in a bid to escape while being escorted to the police station from Lakshisagar forest where they were arrested on October 24.
Vemagal station Inspector Venkatesh and his colleagues Manjunath and Nagesh were injured in the incident. They were admitted to Kolar district hospital, along with the accused, for treatment.
Kolar Superintendent of Police M. Narayana said, “Apart from Venugopal and Munindra, we have arrested Santosh Kumar, Nagendra , Harshith and Arun Kumar, all aged between 20 and 25 years. All of them are natives of Kolar district.”
Investigations so far have revealed that the motive for the murder was old rivalry between Venugopal and the victim Seenappa alias Srinivasan. According to the police, Seenappa had allegedly assaulted Venugopal over a land dispute. Venugopal sustained injuries in his private parts and underwent surgery, but his wife left him. Venugopal decided to avenge Seenappa for ruining his life.
When Seenappa came to know about Venugopal’s intentions, he allegedly attacked him again. this time setting fire to his house. Even though a case was booked, Seenappa was acquitted.
Seenappa had reportedly recently told his associates that he will ‘finish’ Venugopal. This news reached Venugopal, who decided to finish Seenappa before he could be attacked.
The probe also revealed that Venugopal’s nephew was killed in a road accident around four years ago. Venugopal and his family suspected Seenappa to be behind the accident.
Seenappa was hacked to death by a group of armed men when he went to inspect the work at a construction site at Hogalagere, on the outskirts of Srinivasapura town, on October 23.
Severely injured, Seenappa was rushed to a hospital in Kolar where he succumbed.
He was close to Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, and also to former Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar.
Mr. Parameshwara visited the hospital on October 23 and, amidst protests, assured that the accused would be arrested soon.
Police deployed additional its personnel during the last rites of Seenappa to prevent any untoward incident. People in Srinivasapura and surrounding areas are tense, but the situation is under control, police said.
