Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Dec 9: A youth of Bagalkot district, working as tipper driver at Kumbra of the taluk, who was accompanied by three youths 20 days ago and later went missing, was found murdered.

The deceased is identified as Hanumantha Madara (22), a native of Badami Danakashiroor. He was working with Mathrushree Earth Movers in Kumbra. His mortal remains were found on the third bend of Agumbe Ghat. Puttur rural police have detained two people in connection with this murder. It is said that the third accused is absconding.

Hanumantha Madara (left) and the three youths

It is said that illicit relation of deceased Hanumantha with the wife of Shivappa, one of the accused, is the reason for this murder. Shivappa Madara had called up Manjunatha, maternal uncle of Hanumantha, and warned him to send Hanumantha to somewhere or else he will kill him, it is said. Hence, Manjunatha had contacted Santhosh, who was working as an excavator operator in Kumbra and got a job for Hanumantha at Kumbra just six days before he was killed. Three accused had arrived on November 17 and taken Hanumantha along with them.

It is gathered that accused Shivappa had called Manjunatha, on November 17 afternoon and warned that he will not spare Hanumantha. On the same day at around 6.30 pm, accused Shivappa took Hanumantha from his room near a mosque at Kumbra, along with Manjunatha and Durgappa Madara, to Puttur. Hanumantha’s mobile was also switched off a little later. A complaint in this regard was filed by Renavva Madara, mother of the Hanumantha at Badami police station on November 19.

Renavva and Manjunatha, also registered a complaint with Puttur rural police station on November 19. When the rural police took two people who accompanied Hanumantha for the last time, the murder came to light.

Manjunatha and Shivappa are in police custody at present. It is said that they might have strangled Hanumantha or hit him with lethal weapons. Durgappa is on the run.

When Manjunatha, Shivappa and Durgappa came to tipper owner Mohandas Rai’s yard saying that they will take Hanumantha to his native place, Rai asked his employee to take a snap of the trio. This photo helped the police in tracking the killers. It is said that Mohandas Rai clicks the photos of anyone who joins his company and keeps in record. Now the procedure helped police to crack the case immediately.

As Shivappa Madara has accused Hanumantha of illicit relation with Shivappa’s wife, it is suspected that could be the motive for the killing.