Vijayapura (Karnataka), Apr 24 (PTI) Days after a 42-year-old realtor was shot dead after assailants rammed his vehicle in this district, six people have been arrested in connection with the murder, allegedly carried out over a property dispute, police said on Friday.
The incident occurred at around 3 pm on April 14 when Raju Bapu Khare, a resident of Gugadaddi village, was driving towards Vijayapura city in his jeep, they said.
According to police, when he reached near the Aliyabad Industrial Area, a tipper truck hastily approached from the opposite direction and rammed into his jeep. He did not die from the impact.
At the same time, other accused persons, who arrived on two motorcycles, wrongfully restrained him, assaulted him with stones while he was still in the vehicle, and fired gunshots at him from pistols in their possession, causing grievous injuries that led to his death before fleeing the spot.
Following the incident, based on a complaint by the deceased’s brother, a case was registered at Vijayapura Rural Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder, unlawful assembly, rioting while armed with deadly weapons, and provisions of the Arms Act, police said.
“In this case, the Vijayapura rural police formed two teams that worked to identify those involved, determine the motive, and trace the accused. All six accused involved in the murder have been arrested,” Superintendent of Police (Vijayapura) Laxman Nimbargi said.
The accused have been identified as Abushya Kodlekar (36), Abashya Mane (35), Vageesh (31), Jalinder (29), Ajit (29), and Muragu (24), police said.
During interrogation, it emerged that a property dispute between Abushya, the prime accused, and the victim had led to a conspiracy to murder him, the officer said.
The investigation revealed that the accused conspired and purchased the tipper truck just two days before the murder. They kept track of the victim’s movements, monitored his travel route, and, after learning he would pass through the area, used the truck to cause the collision, the officer added.
The accused also used two motorcycles—one to follow him and another accompanying the truck. In all, four accused arrived in these vehicles, carried out the murder, and escaped, he said.
After the murder, they abandoned the motorcycles used in the offence at Tikota taluk and near Solapur railway station, respectively, and went into hiding, police said.
“So far, we have seized two country-made pistols, seven mobile phones, the motorcycles used in the offence, the tipper truck, and a car,” he said.
The accused were produced before a court on April 24 and remanded to police custody for further interrogation, he added.
“During interrogation, all material evidence to be collected from them has been secured. The investigation is ongoing,” he said. PTI AMP SSK
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