Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Mar 27: Poovappa Moolya (44) from Madapalke in Badagakajekar village, and Yashodhar Shetty (42) from Berkala in Kukkala village, who is an auto rickshaw driver by profession, were arrested on Monday March 25 by the policemen. The two have been accused of hatching a plot to murder K Harishchandra Poojary, a member of Badagakajekar gram panchayat, who a BJP leader and social worker having considerable clout in the region.

Reportedly, the murder was planned to settle scores relating to a persisting enmity between Poovappa Moolya and Poojary. The policemen claim that Moolya, who had taken two of his associates into confidence while planning the murder, had finalized the deal with a Kerala-based contract killer for Poojary’s elimination. A price of Rs 2.85 lac for executing the murder plan was agreed upon, and a sum of Rs 85,000 was paid as advance, it is said.

The policemen are also questioning a person named Rajesh Acharya, who is already in their custody, about his role in the murder plan, as he is also suspected to be involved with the conspiracy. They are also putting in efforts to locate the contract killer from Kerala. The policemen claim that an earlier attempt to kill Poojary had failed.

Both the accused were produced in Beltangady court on Monday, and were remanded to judicial custody till April 8.