Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Sep 13: District superintendent of police (SP), Rajendra Prasad, said that the arrested accused relating to the murder of Pitty Nagesh in front of Halima Sabju auditorium in Udyavar on September 11 had confessed that they had eliminated Nagesh as an act of revenge for the murder of Vinod Shettigar, a notorious rowdy.
He was addressing a press conference held here on Saturday September 13.
The SP explained that the Kaup police had received a complaint from Jitendra Shetty, son of Ratnakar Shetty from Udyavar, informing the police that a person aged around 40 to 45 years had been found murdered with sharp weapons and it was apparent from the way the man was butchered that his killers had come with the specific intention of murdering him. Accordingly, a case under sections 302 and 34 of Indian Penal Code was registered in Kaup police station.
The murderer-accused, identified as Ivan Richard (33) alias Munna, from Salami Cottage, behind Nejar Rice Mill, Pragati Nagara, Moodutonse, Santhekatte, Guruprasad Shetty (26) of Alevoor Doddamane, Guddeangady post, Alevoor village, Santosh Poojary (32), residing near Hanuman Garage, Badagubettu Moodumane, Bailoor, Vishwanath Shetty (32), residing at Radha Nivas, Melmane, Korangrapady, and Zakir Hussain (25), from Kalyan Nagar, Badagubettu Kukkikatte, have since been arrested.
Two swords, a large-sized knife, a Maruti-800 car bearing r registration number KA 20 M 7493, a Ford Fiesta car bearing registration number KA 20 B 6757, and five mobile handsets, were confiscated, he added. During their questioning, the accused reportedly told the police that they eliminated Pitty Nagesh as an act of vengeance for the killing of their friend, Vinod Shettigar, which was said to have been executed by Pitty alias Nagesh Devadiga.
The SP said that DCIB police inspector, Jaishankar, investigating officer and Kaup police inspector, Sunil Naik, Padubidri police sub-inspector, Azmat Ali, and Shirva sub-inspector, Ashok P had coordinated with the above operation.
In fact, Munna worked as an aide of Pitty Nagesh, but conspired with the enemies of his master in this killing, it is learnt. On September 8, both Pitty Nagesh and Vishwanath Shetty had attended a court hearing in the town. When they came face to face, Pitty Nagesh reportedly threatened Vishwanath of killing the latter. It is said that Nagesh also told Munna that Vishwanath should be eliminated soon.
It is learnt that Pitty Nagesh faced 22 cases, Guruprasad Shetty faces two, Santosh faces two, Vishwanath Shetty was named in three cases, while Zakir faces two cases.
The Maruti car used for murder was purchased by Munna from Rashwath Shetty from Kundapur. Munna was involved with some timber business at Belman. The accused Vishwanath it is said, paid Rs 1,500 as petrol money to Munna for taking Nagesh to Belman, as per a plan hatched to kill him. Munna invited Pitty Nagesh to accompany him to Belman on the pretext of work, and on the way, kept informing others about their movements. From Belman, Munna escorted Pitty Nagesh to a bar in Katapadi, where he ensured that Pitty Nagesh was fully drunk. When moving in the car thereafter, Munna abruptly stopped car near Halima Sabju Hall in Udyavar on the pretext of buying food, and alerted his accomplices who were lying in wait near about the presence of their target. Guruprasad pulled Nagesh out of the car, and stabbed him in the stomach, even as Pitty pleaded to be spared. Others also joined him and stabbed Nagesh repeatedly. The stabbing, it is said, continued long after Nagesh breathed his last, as a result of which his small intestine was exposed.
When people started gathered at the spot, they were kept at bay at knife point, and the killers sped away in the car, it is gathered.
Acting on information gathered by district crime intelligence bureau (DCIB) police inspector, Jaishankar, and under the directions of SP, P Rajendra Prasad, guidance of additional SP, Santosh Kumar and assistant superintendent of police Karkala, K Annamalai, a team of DCIB along with Kaup police circle inspector, Sunil Y Naik, in a swift operation conducted on Friday September 12 afternoon, arrested the accused who were hiding in a garden near the railway bridge at Bolche Galikudru in Udyavar village, the SP explained.