Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Updated
Udupi, Dec 19: In a shocking incident, a rowdy-sheeter was hacked to death in broad daylight at Kotanakatte under Hiriadka police limits here on Monday December 19.
The deceased has been identified as Varvadi Praveen Kulal (35).
It is said that Praveen and his friend had come by car to a restaurant for lunch. When they were about to leave, two persons came in a bike armed with machetes, waylaid them and attacked.
Praveen ran for his life, but the men gave him a chase. He was hacked to death in front of a travel agency located opposite the restaurant. The assailants fled the spot immediately. Eyewitnesses said that he was attacked for nearly 30 minutes but no one came to his rescue.
Udupi SP K T Balakrishna along with Hiriadka police, additional SP Kumaraswamy and inspector Sampath Kumar rushed to the spot.
Sources said that Praveen Kulal was involved in 16 cases, including murders, attempts to murder and issuing threats to a zilla panchayat member and attacking his supporters. Recently, Goonda Act was evoked against him. He had also been named the main accused in cases like murder of Basheer, murder of Banglegudde Sulaiman, death threat incident near Moodubelle bar, collection protection money at Hiriadka etc, and was arrested various times.
One of the assailants is suspected to be Puthige Santu. Sources said that Praveen too had a revolver with him but did not get an opportunity to use it. Sources also said that Santu may have been injured in the attack.
Hiriadka police have registered a case and investigations are on.