Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 16: The policemen have succeeded in arresting five prime accused in the case pertaining to the murder of Harish Bhandary at a bar near Suratkal at midnight on Tuesday April 13. One of the accused was however, able to give them a slip.

Loku alias Lokesh Suvarna (25) from Tokur Shediguri, Kulai Kodikere Vishwanath (25), Umesh Poojary(24) from Koppa in Chikmagalur, presently residing in a rented house in Kulai, Kodikere Dharma alias Prashant (24) and Ravi Kumar (29), resident of Kulai Hosabettu, are the arrested accused.

The police personnel have also seized the sword and  wooden pieces used for the murder besides mobile phones. The policemen say that the accused Umesh Poojary had earlier been assaulted by a person close to the slain Harish Bhandary. The attack was on the suspicion that Harish Bhandary, who had come on a visit to his native place from the Gulf, might engineer another attack on Poojary, the policemen claim. Poojary had grown apprehensive after he saw Harish Bhandary and his gang loitering near his residence earlier that day.

After attacking Harish Bhandary and his gang in the bar in which Bhandary was murdered and three persons were injured, the gang went to Kadri in a tempo and stayed in a deserted restaurant located in Kuttettoor village. One of the accused named Majoj is yet to be nabbed. There are about 15 cases against Lokesh, driver, in Paambur and Suratkal police stations. Vishwanath, a coolie, also faces seven cases in Suratkal and Panambur police stations. Dharma works as the recovery agent for a mobile company while Ravi Kumar is employed in a private firm.