Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 5: City’s notorious psycho killer ‘Benki Raja,’ who targets security personnel guarding ATMs and kills by smashing their heads with stone, was arrested by Kumarswamy Layout police on June 3.

The 28-year-old Rajendra alias Benki Raja had escaped from police custody in April, after he was arrested for murdering 60-year-old Lingappa Davalagi at an ATM on March 24 this year.

Davalagi was guarding Karnataka Bank ATM near Uttarahalli. His head was smashed with a stone. Police zeroed on Benki Raja after CCTV footage showed him walking around the ATM with a stone on the morning of the murder. He was arrested on April 4 but managed to escape from police custody.

This is not the first time Benki Raja was arrested. He has served four years in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison after being arrested by Basavanagudi police for possessing drugs. He was released from the jail in 2018, after which he began murdering ATM guards.

Raja’s first victim was an ATM guard in Basavanagudi Police Station limits, whom he killed using a stone. The next victim was guarding an ATM in Konanakunte Police Station limits and the most recent was Davalagi.

Raja after killing the guards stole their possessions and sold them. He used money to purchase drugs.

Rajendra was nicknamed ‘Benki’ (fire) as he had killed his sister by burning her when he was just eight years old.

Benki Raja has been booked for murders by Basavanagudi, Kumaraswamy Layout and Konanakunte police and also for a murder attempt in JP Nagar Police Station limits.