News & Pics: Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Nov 18: Kota station police have arrested the main accused in connection with deliberately setting a fancy shop on fire at Sasthan late night on August 27. The accused, identified as Abhishek alias Abhi, was arrested at Kome of Kundapur taluk on Monday, November 16.

Kota station police had earlier, arrested two other suspects Kote Balikere residents Sharath and Kanchan in Shivamogga on September 23 and produced in the court. Other two suspects Bharath and Shashikumar had obtained anticipatory bail from the court. Police had removed the name of Charan from the charge sheet.

Miscreants had set fire to the shop selling fancy items and milk products run by Pratap Kunder situated in Kalasha commercial complex on Sasthan Kodi fisheries road on August 27. Praveen, brother of Kunder and his friends had quarrelled with four people of another community at Mabukala for misbehaving with girls in public place. The matter was settled in Kota police station. However on the same day, miscreants had set fire to the shop run by the brother of Praveen. The activists of Hindu Jagarana Vedike, suggesting that the commotion behind the boys of another community was reason for the fire case, had held massive protests at Sasthan and urged for the arrests of culprits.

When Kota station inspector investigated the incident, it was discovered that the cause was not that of the earlier event of the day but the old enmity of Praveen. The police had called some people to the police station for questioning and let them out asking them to come back when called again.However, on the next day morning all the six suspects had gone missing. The police who grew suspicious, started a manhunt for them.

The arrested have confessed that Abhishek had hatched a conspiracy tempting Sharath and Vignesh with money and liquor. It was later learnt that they had set fire to the shop by pouring petrol. Kota PSI Kabbal Raj and staff had tried hard to solve the case and they have received praises from everywhere.