Updated
Bengaluru, Apr 1 (Agencies): A teenage girl was shot dead at a residential school hostel here allegedly by an office attendant. The accused has been arrested, police said on Wednesday.
"The shootout occurred around 10 pm. Tuesday, when the 41-year-old accused, Mahesh, barged into the hostel room of 17-year-old Gautami and fired at her from close range with a sophisticated pistol and fled the spot," Bengaluru Commissioner of Police M N Reddi told reporters later.
Injured Shirisha
The girl's roommate, Shirisha, who received a bullet injury in her ear, is recovering at a private hospital here.
A special team, formed to nab the accused, tracked Mahesh hiding at his sister's house on Wednesday afternoon and also recovered the pistol.
"We have registered a murder case against the accused under sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act and set up two teams to investigate the case, which is disturbing," Reddi said.
Police came to know about the incident when the hostel warden filed a police complaint against Mahesh on Wednesday.
The girl, who completed the two-year pre-university course (PUC) in Pragathi school-cum-junior college, appeared for public exams last month and stayed back in the hostel to prepare for entrance tests in pursuit of higher studies.
"The probe teams are interrogating Mahesh to find out why he shot the victim and from where he got the pistol, which is expensive," Reddi said.
Though Mahesh has been working in the school as an attendant since 2012, he has been living in the city for over the last 10-15 years, according to the school authorities.
Gauthami and Sirisha hailed from Pavagada in Tumkur district while Mahesh is a native of Agumbe in Shivamogga.
Though there are reports that Mahesh was very close to Gauthami, the police investigating the case claimed that there was no relationship between Gauthami and Mahesh.
The injured girl is "out of danger" and is being treated at a private hospital here, he said.
Reddi earlier said the attender working with the institution for the last two years was absconding and the motive behind the killing was not yet known.
Describing it as "an unfortunate incident", Home Minister K J George, who visited the college, said the two students were at the hostel last night when the attender "shot at one girl and has killed her."
Earlier Report
Bengaluru: Second PU girl shot dead in hostel, allegedly by 'jilted lover'
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 1: In a shocking incident, a girl was shot dead at her hostel here on the night of Tuesday March 31.
The deceased has been identified as Gautami (17), a student of second PU at Pragathi School near Kadugodi. Gautami hailed from Tumakuru and was staying in the hostel.
It is alleged that Mahesh (30), hailing from Agumbe, who works as an attender in the school office, shot her in the head.
Mahesh also allegedly attacked another girl, identified as Shirisha. She has been hospitalized.
Though the exact reasons are not known, sources said that Mahesh was in love with Gautami, and shot her dead after she rejected him.
Mahesh is absconding.
Bengaluru police commissioner M N Reddi, DCP Rohini and other officials visited the spot.
Speaking to media, Reddi said that the police have already formed three teams to investigate and track down Mahesh. A team will also visit other states to hunt him down.
"We have registered a case against the accused (Mahesh) who is absconding from the school, and have set up three special teams to hunt him down," city police commissioner M N Reddi told reporters here.
"According to the girl's friend Sirisha, who was injured in the firing, the attacker barged into the third floor hostel room of Gauthami around 11 pm on Tuesday and opened fire at her as she opened the door on hearing a knock," Reddi said.
"We have learnt from the school authorities that Mahesh was working in the school the past two years," Reddi added.
Home minister K J George also visited the hostel.
With IANS Inputs