Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 27: The police on Sunday March 27 arrested two persons in connection to the murder of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga that took place in Kodialbail on March 21.
Addressing a press meet here on Sunday March 27, police commissioner Chandra Sekhar informed that the accused arrested are Vinith Poojary (26), a resident of Padavinangady, Kavoor and Nishith Devadiga (23), a resident of Shaktinagar.
Nishith (L) and Vinith
Baliga was murdered early morning on March 21 when he was on his way to the temple as usual on his scooter. Just as he came out of his house, unidentified persons waylaid him and attacked him with sharp weapons before escaping the spot.
After the murder took place, a police team led by ACP Tilak Chandra and CCB inspector Valentine D'Souza and other personnel was formed. The CCB team succeeded in arresting the two accused on March 27 morning near the railway station at BC Road, Bantwal.
The police commissioner said that the two accused are supari (contract) killers who were directly involved in the murder, and investigation is on to trace the other accused and those who plotted the crime.
"There are a few people behind this and we are determined to trace them. The accused arrested are supari killers who committed the crime for money. We came to know this during preliminary investigation. This is an important case," he said.
"The accused had planned to murder Baliga on March 20, but could not carry out their task as there were people around. On March 21, they waylaid Baliga on the pretext of asking some address and attacked him.
"We will follow up this case. We are duty-bound to solve the murder and arrest all the accused. We visited the victim's family also and assured that we would get to the bottom of the case. We are doing our duty without fear or favour and we will stand by the family. We will ensure that the investigation is done in a proper manner until the case reaches its logical conclusion. Give some time to trace the others who are involved," he said.
Asked about the motive behind the murder, he said, "It is very early to predict. I cannot speak now as there should be some proof."
To a query on whether Baliga was killed because of his RTI activism, the police commissioner said it could not be ruled out.
He also said that the weapons used in the crime are yet to be recovered.
DCPs Dr Sanjeev Patil and Shantaraju were present.