Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 27: In a major development, a court has reportedly sentenced the accused to life imprisonment in connection with the sensational 2014 murder of senior Congress leader and Mogaveera community leader, Gangadhar Pangala.
While it is confirmed that a life sentence has been handed down in the case, complete details regarding the exact number of accused convicted and their specific identities are yet to emerge.
Background of the case
Gangadhar Pangala (55) was killed in the small hours of May 15, 2014, in what was initially staged to look like a tragic hit-and-run accident. He was returning home on his two-wheeler from Muloor when an unidentified vehicle knocked him down near Baikampady, killing him on the spot.
However, his family immediately suspected foul play and alleged that it was a pre-planned murder. Their suspicions were validated during the investigation led by the Panambur police. Crucial CCTV footage recovered from a camera installed near a goods railway station unravelled the plot. The footage showed a Bolero vehicle deliberately waiting for Pangala and then intentionally ramming into his scooter.
Following this breakthrough, the police arrested three individuals—Harish Baikampady, Bhaskar Baikampady, and Pushparaj, the driver of the Bolero. The police also seized the vehicles used in the crime. The prime accused, Sathish Baikampady, who had initially absconded, was subsequently arrested by the police.
Investigations at the time revealed that the murder was the fallout of an old family feud and political animosity. Police sources had indicated that Pangala was a strong contender to be nominated as the chairman of the Karnataka State Fisheries Development Board, a prospect that was strongly opposed by his rivals, ultimately leading to the conspiracy to eliminate him.