Cops open fire at murder accused, 5 injured

Mangaluru: Five persons, including three police personnel, sustained injuries after police opened fire at a fleeing murder accused near Global Heritage Layout of Mulki police station limits on Saturday.
Raja aka Raviraj aka Raghavendra, 28, a rowdy-sheeter was murdered in Panambur police station limits on June 6. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar told reporters that following the murder, a team comprising officials from CCB and Panambur police was formed.
CCTV footage showed that Arjun Moodushedde and Manoj aka Bindas Manoj had arrived on a bike and brutally assaulted Raja. Police had picked up the two accused on Friday afternoon. After interrogation, on Saturday police took Arjun and Manoj along with them to a layout in Mulki to arrest the others allegedly involved in the crime. When the two assaulted the police in a bid to escape, CCB inspector Mahesh Prasad to protect the policemen and to prevent the accused from escaping, initially fired in the air. When the accused refused to pay heed to the warning, he fired two rounds injuring them in the legs.
Three police personnel including PSI Rajendra and head constable Sudhir Poojary and ASI David sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to a private hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed that more than 20 people were directly or indirectly involved in the case and the commissioner expressed confidence in arresting them at the earliest
On the motive, Shashi Kumar said, it is suspected to be revenge killing. The deceased and the accused were part of a gang that was into anti-social activities from 2010-12. Following the Sandesh murder case in 2019, the gang split. The planning for the murder began five months ago, at a wedding function in Surathkal. About 20 days ago, the plan was finalised at a mehndi ceremony held in Kaup.
Accused Arjun had reportedly loaned Rs 2.5 lakh to the deceased who was refusing to pay back the same. For five days prior to the execution of the murder, the accused had kept a close watch on the deceased.
After committing the crime, the accused travelled to Madhya, Udupi, Hassan, Mysuru, and Mudipu.