R B Jagadish

Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jun 17: A failed murder attempt aimed at Udupi zilla panchayat (ZP) member, Bailoor Sumith Shetty, and Bajrang Dal convener, Maheshkumar Bialoor, shook the town on the night of Wednesday June 15. Bullets flew, and swords were swung in this action-packed drama said to have been executed by hired killers. Five persons, who were injured by the swords flashed by the miscreants, have been admitted into the hospitals in the town.

Sumith Shetty, Mahesh Shenoy

Contract killer, Praveen Kulal, and Kodikere Vishwanath Poojary are said to be the brains behind this attack.

It is said that Praveen Kulal had been making repeated calls to Bailoor Sumith Shetty over cellphone since about a week, informing him of the former's desire to discuss something, and requesting him to fix time and venue for the meeting. As per the understanding. Sumith Shetty reached near KFC outlet at Manipal on Tuesday afternoon. It is said that Praveen Kulal, Kodikere Vishwanath Poojary, and two other persons reached there in a black Scorpio vehicle sometime later.

It is said that Praveen Kulal told Sumith Shetty that as per his calculations, the latter, being a ZP member, had amassed lot of wealth. Introducing himself and his companions as contract killers, he asked Shetty to pay him hefty sum by way of protection money, which will be decided by him. "We have been contracted to kill you and Bailoor Mahesh Shenoy. We leave the choice either to pay money or lose life to you," Kulal told Shetty. Sumith said that there is no question of paying money and asked Kulal the basis on which he was demanding the money. There was heated exchange words between the two groups then. Thereafter, both the groups left the spot.

Thereafter, calls from Kulal started coming to the phones of Sumith Shetty and Bajrang Dal convener, Maheshkumar Bialoor, threatening them with death. In reply, both of them challenged Kulal to execute his plan by coming to Bailoor. As this information spread like wildfire, many activists of Bajrang Dal and BJP came together in Bailoor town.

At around 10.45 pm, a green Scorpio vehicle arrived at Bailoor town. Paveen Kulal came out of this vehicle. He asked the people there for the whereabouts of Sumith Shetty and Mahesh Shenoy, and fired at the ground. When the people who had gathered there chased Kulal, a seven-member gang led by Kodikere Vishwanath Poojary which arrived there in a Maruti Omni vehicle, swung the swords held by them at the people indiscriminately.

As a result, Sandeep and Deepak from Bailoor, Amith from Jodurasthe, Kabettu Vasu, and Sudheer from Nitte were injured. The first two among them were admitted into Pratibha Nursing Home, whereas the others are being treated at City Nursing Home.

On the basis of complaint filed by ZP member, Sumith Shetty, a case stands registered in the town police station here. Policemen have begun investigation.

The police are trying to decide whether these incidents were backed by political, religious, or personal considerations. In the previous ZP election, BJP leaders had decided to field Vikram Hegde as party candidate from Bailoor constituency. But Bajrang Dal activists and fans of Sumith Shetty had openly challenged this decision, and undertaken campaign in favour of Shetty. The BJP leaders, in order not to allow the issue to harm the party, changed their mind at the last minute and allotted party ticket to Sumith Shetty. This had given rise to some heartburn among some BJP factions.

Mahesh Shenoy and Sumith Shetty had played a stellar role in building Bajrang Dal into a force to reckon with in this region. Appreciating ther functioning style, a large army of youngsters has been backing them in their endeavours. Therefore, there are chances of a religious organization having planned to finish them off in view of a recent unsavoury incident in Moodbidri, with the help of contract killers.

There are several others who feel that there is likelihood of murderers of Sulaiman, who reportedly killed Sulaiman at the instance of Sangh Parivar, going through a lean patch financially. now, having spent the money got then. As the Sangh Parivar is not taking care of these killers anymore, they would have resorted to this trick to coerce the concerned to yield, they argue.

The police are investigating from all these angles, it is learnt.

Banglegudde Sulaiman and his associates were the ones who murdered Bajrang Dal leader, Polali Ananthu, Candle Santhu, and Kabettu Hussain, it is said. After eliminating Ananthu and Santhu, Sulaiman had emerged as a hero for Muslim community. However, because of his wrong deeds, he reportedly lost his sway over Muslims in course of time. Sulaiman was thereafter killed in December 2011 at Palli village.

Sulaiman, who was having relationship with different women, was invited to a spot through a lady. He was fired at and then hit with swords after he reached the spot. The plan to kill him was hatched at the sub-jail at Hiriyadka in the district. A person who had kidnapped entrepreneur from Miyar, Leo, and released him after payment of ransom, identified as Bharat Shetty from Palli, was lodged in this sub-jail then. Bharat, who initially failed to execute murder plan of Sulaiman, later came close to him. They ate together and moved around in car together like close associates. In association with Praveen Kulal, Somu from Tellar, Kodikere Vishwanath Poojary, and Shivaraj, Bharat Shetty easily eliminated Sulaiman.

It is said that the gang got huge amount as reward for this murder, and many businessmen had contributed for this act, it is believed. Praveen Kulal and Kodikere Vishwanath later used to pester Sangh Parivar leaders often for money on this basis. To avoid problems, the leaders often paid small sums to keep them quiet, it is being claimed.

Basheer from Sacheripet used to live in a rented home owned by Fathima at Doddanagudde. Fathima, originally from Shivamogga, and Basheer had a thriving illegal relationship, it was said. When Basheer's marriage was fixed, Fathima was the first to object. Fathima was later accused of taking Basheer as driver of her car to Agumbe, and murdering him at Seethanadi, Hebri on the way. Praveen Kulal was the other accused in this murder case.

A Matka king from Udupi, who was believed to have supported the accused, was held then by Karkala rural police. The then station house officer, Sathish, had succeeded in cracking the case and arresting the accused.