A 35-year-old security guard, believed to have been charred to death in a bus at the depot of the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation at Magod near here on the morning of January 1, appeared at the security office of the corporation in Hubballi on Sunday.

The police have taken the guard in question - Ningaraj Palakshappa Belagutti, from Angaragatti in Hirekerur taluk in the district - into custody and are interrogating him. The corporation had also announced that it would pay compensation to the next of kin of Belagutti.

Questions have now been raised as to who the person that actually perished in the tragedy could be.

The forensic laboratory had, three days ago, given a report that the DNA samples of the person found dead were not matching. District Superintendent of Police K Parashuram said the probe in the case would continue.
DH News Service

Guard thought to be dead in bus blaze alive