Daijiworld News Network - Udupi (GA)
Udupi, Aug 24: Within 48 hours of the murder of Hai Maruta editor Hitendra Prasad at Manipal, the Manipal police along with the DCIB team have arrested four suspects from Indrali railway station on Wednesday August 24 morning at 7.30. Police reports said that the accused were trying to catch a train to Mumbai when they were arrested. On questioning, the suspects have confessed to have murdered Hitendra on Monday August 22 night, near a live band joint at Manipal.
The arrested have been identified as Salim (25), Dinesh (28), Ramesh (28) and Manikantha (23). The police have confirmed that the arrested were the members of Pitti Nagesh's gang and were employed by the latter to murder Hitendra some days ago. Pitti Nagesh is a rowdy-sheeter. Though he had identified himself with Hitendra earlier, owing to some personal rivalry, he had distanced himself from the former and was waiting for an opportunity to kill him.
The investigation revealed that on Monday, the henchmen had made vain attempts to murder Hitendra during the day, when he was covering the visit of KPCC president Mallikarjuna Kharge in the town. But owing to tight police security, their attempts failed. But on the same evening, Pitti Nagesh received information that Hitendra Prasad was at Thaloor's Bar at Manipal. So he asked his hired men to execute the murder.
After arriving at the place, the assailants watched every move by Hitendra and waited for right the moment, when he would be alone. Once they found him alone, talking on the phone, Salim and Dinesh attacked him with sharp weapons on his head. As a result, Hitendra sustained serious injuries and collapsed on the ground.
It is further disclosed in the confession that soon after the act, a few persons who had gathered at the gate of the said bar in an argument, also rushed to the spot and were witnesses to the incident. Soon after, the four of them fled from the scene and after having thrown the weapons in a gutter in Indiranagar, they left the town.
The police team investigating the case was after the gang of Pitti Nagesh, as he was one of the old foes of Hitendra. The police were confirmed about Pitti's involvement when they found that almost all members of his gang were absconding from Monday night. As the clues got stronger by the day, the team received information on Wednesday morning that four of the gang members were trying to escape to Mumbai. The police squad reached the spot and apprehended them at the railway station.
However, the prime accused, Pitti Nagesh is still at large and the team is at the task. Only his arrest may throw more light into the murder.
However, all kudos to police team for having solved the seemingly complicated case within 48 hours.
Earlier News: