Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Udupi, Apr 23: The three persons accused in connection to the brutal attack and murder of Sridhar Shetty, a resident of Muratakadi, surrendered before the court here on Wednesday April 23.
Prashant Shetty and Ashok Shetty
Sridhar Shetty (65) was allegedly beaten up by his neighbours Prashant Shetty, Ashok Shetty and Gunakar Shetty, who also happen to be relatives, on April 18. Sridhar passed away in a hospital later, but before breathing his last, he reportedly revealed the names of his attackers to his wife.
Prashant, Ashok and Gunakar had reportedly gone missing soon after Sridhar died, and the victim's family had alleged that police were hand in glove with the accused and had helped them escape.
However, on April 23, the threesome surrendered before the court and were remanded in judicial custody till May 5. It is learnt that the Manipal police would be submitting an appeal in the court on Thursday April 24 asking for their custody.
Sridhar had been allegedly attacked by Prashant, Ashok and Gunakar over sand mining issue. It is said that Sridhar had objected to the the transportation of sand mined from the banks of River Swarna through his land by Prashant. The transportation of sand, which had been going on for 25 years, was stopped by Prashant after Sridhar started demanding money for the use of his land for transportation.
It is said that Prashant and his associates had only wanted to assault Sridhar as a warning and had no intention to kill him.
After Sridhar's death, his relatives claimed that a policeman, who earlier worked in Manipal police station and is presently posted to a police station in Kaup circle, had guided the accused to execute this murder plan. They also claimed that another policeman too was in constant touch with the accused. However, the police denied the allegations and assured that the guilty would be punished.