Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Nov 23: In a complaint filed with the policemen here, local BJP municipal councillor, A Govind Prabhu, has said that an attempt was made by local jewellery merchant, Suresh V Baliga, to kill him by firing at him at around 11.35 pm on Saturday November 21. Prabhu said that one of the bullets was fired in the air, while the other two directed at his legs, but the shots missed their targets, as Baliga was in an agitated mental condition then.

Reportedly, Baliga is angry that Prabhu had objected to the municipality’s move to ratify an additional floor built by Baliga in a commercial complex built by him here, in violation of the licence.  Prabhu said that Baliga called him out, chastised him for acting unjustifiably in his case, and then fired at the former after engaging in some verbal frictions, with the help of a licensed pistol Baliga holds because of the threat he faces from the underworld.

In a counter-complaint, Suresh Baliga said that he came to the spot after learning that Govind Prabhu and his brothers were preparing to assault his brother, Nagendra Baliga.  “As Prabhu was in possession of lethal weapons, I fired in the air for self-protection,” he said.  Venkataramana Prabhu, brother of Govind Prabhu, in another complaint, has accused Nagendra Baliga and Suresh V Baliga of posing threat to him by brandishing the pistol.

Circle inspector, K Nanjunde Gowda, said that three complaints have been registered in relation to this incident, and that the policemen have been investigating all of them.

In Mangalore, inspector general of police, Gopal Hosur, told the presspersons that the Nagendra Baliga of Baliga Jewellers, to whom a security guard has been provided because of the life threat he faces, has been asked to change the guard. He also said that the gun licence Baliga possesses will be reviewed.