Kundapur: Adiga Case - Mediapersons Get Threat Calls, J P Hegde Assures Security

Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Jan 20: The sensational murder case of RTI activist Vasudeva Adiga has caught the imagination of the coastal region. Ever since Adiga was allegedly kidnapped on January 7, the media has been keeping a close watch on the developments and reporting them faithfully.

Now, a few of the reporters who have been following the case closely are said to be receiving threat calls. The fact that mediapersons maybe targetted by vested interests has evoked fear among the locals too.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde, while praising mediapersons for their thorough and persistent reporting on the case, assured that he would direct the SP and DySP to take appropriate action against those making the threat calls.

"It is shocking that reporters who have been faithfully reporting on the case have been gettings threats. Discussions will be held with the officials concerned to provide adequate security to media. The government as well as the local administration should take more responsibility to ensure safety of the mediapersons," he said.

Meanwhile, the police have made considerable progress in the case with the arrest of six accused, though the prime suspect is still said to be absconding.

The accused arrested so far are Naveen, Umesh, Raghavendra, Mohan Udupa, Subramanya Udupa and Ravichandra. Among them, Ravichandra and Mohan were arrested from Bangalore while Subramanya was arrested at Kadur, it is learnt.

While Naveen, Umesh and Raghavendra were produced in the court on Friday January 18, the rest appeared in court on Saturday. All have been remanded in police custody till January 24.

Subramanya Udupa is an astrologer based in Bangalore since several years. Ravichandra is a lawyer by profession while Mohan is said to be a relative of another accused Umesh.

Police sources said that the prime suspect in the case - Ramesh Bayari - is still absconding and police have intensified their efforts to trace him. Police have declined from giving further information about the involvement of two others - a quarry owner and a temple committee head - who have been absconding ever since the first arrest of four persons from Bangalore on January 16.

The police led by Kundapur DySP Yashoda on Saturday took all the six accused to the spot at Kadur where Adiga's body was found on January 12 and conducted further investigations on the sequence of events.

It is said that Subramanya Udupa and Ramesh Bayari who absconded soon after Adiga's body was found, had tried to obtain anticipatory bail. While Udupa was arrested before he could get the bail, there are chances that Bayari, once traced, may appear in court with the anticipatory bail.

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• Udupi: RTI Activist Vasudeva Adiga Cremated Amid Sea of Mourners
• Udupi: Kidnapped Vasudeva Adiga's Body Found in Chikmagalur
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