With additional pics and inputs from Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)
Mangaluru, Jan 10: The police have arrested five persons in connection with the murder of BJP activist and businessman Keshava Shetty.
Keshava Shetty (35) was murdered at Kinnigoli on the morning of Tuesday January 6.
Addressing a press meet at the police commissioner's office here on Saturday January 10, DCP K Santosh Babu said that the accused arrested are Lithesh (25), a resident of Soorinje, Shobi alias Shobhraj (23), a resident of Madya, Yuvaraj alias Appu (23), a resident of Delantabettu and Krishna (19) from Mannabettu, Kinnigoli. Bharat, who assisted in carryng out the crime, has also been arrested.
The main accused Satish alias Sachu is absconding.
The DCP said that during interrogation of the accused, it came to light that the murder was connected to an internal rivalry over financial issues and ego clashes and not ganja as suspected earlier.
DCP Babu explained that Keshava Shetty was a businessman who ran a garage called Carline at Hosabettu. Accused Satish had asked some money from Keshava, but Keshava refused to oblige. Angered at this, Satish had issued threats to Keshava, about which the latter had filed a complaint in the Suratkal police station. Satish was then taken into custody.
Satish developed enmity with Keshava over this.
Besides, accused Lithesh too had asked money from Keshava, and he too was turned down. This led Lithesh to harbour a grudge against Keshava and he used to stare menacingly at Keshava whenever they crossed paths. A few days ago, Keshava decided to confront Lithesh and went to his house, and warned him to stay away. Worried that Keshava might kill him, Lithesh then sought the help of his friends Satish, Shobhraj, Yuvaraj and Krishna, and together they plotted to murder Keshava.
As per their plan, the accused lay in wait all night at Soorinje Kote and at around 6.30 am, when Keshava came by bike with his friend Sampath to play badminton, the five who were hiding behind some bushes waylaid the bike, dragged him towards the bushes and attacked him with swords and knives.
Accused Bharat who was standing at some distance while Keshava was being attacked, not only had the job of confirming that Keshava had died, but also take the bike used in the crime to another place. The police have already arrested Bharat for abetting the crime.
When asked about the drug mafia angle to the crime, Santosh Babu said that there was no substantial evidence to connect the murder to ganja. "The accused in this case had not taken any ganja and they were fully aware of what they were doing. I do not deny that ganja problem exists in the city. We are making long term plans to locate the main source of drug peddling and catch hold of the king pins of ganja trade," he said.
He also said that the main accused Satish had tried many times to kill Keshava but did not get an opportunity.
He assured that hunt is on for Satish and he would be caught soon.
Santosh Babu also rubbished reports that Keshava had been a police informer.
"More details will be known once Satish is arrested," he added.
The operation was conducted on the directions of police commissioner S Murugan, under the guidance of DCP (law and order) Santosh Babu, DCP (crime) Vishnuvardhan, and ACP Ravikumar.
Earlier in the day, the accused were taken to the crime spot for investigation.