Bengaluru: Apr 3 (DHNS): The attender of Pragathi School and PU College in Kadugodi, accused of shooting dead PU student Gauthami and injuring another student at the college’s girls’ hostel on Tuesday night, has claimed that he had carried out the attack to teach a lesson to a few girls who had violated his instructions.
Though K Mahesh (38) has made such a claim before the police, senior officers say that his statements have to be corroborated after questioning the students, staff and management of the college.
“We are still questioning him and he seems to have some psychological problems. There are many contradictions in his statements and he could be trying to cook up a story,” a top officer connected with the investigations told Deccan Herald on Thursday.
The police would need more time to take the probe to a logical end as they have not been able to question Shirisha (16) who was injured after she was shot by the accused.
She is in the ICU of Manipal Hospitals after undergoing a surgery on Wednesday. Her statement would be crucial to take the probe forward. Also, other inmates of the hostel have gone home owing to an extended weekend holiday.
“We will speak to them once they return,” the police said.
Mahesh had imposed several restrictions on the girls and always prevented them from doing certain things. He did not like them mingling with boys. Gauthami, Shirisha and others had objected to his attitude and had told him to mind his business. He plotted the attack as he was humiliated by their remarks in public, Police Commissioner M N Reddi had said on Wednesday.
Mahesh claimed that he bought the country-made pistol in K R Puram about two weeks ago. He also claimed that there was no specific reason for him to buy the weapon, the officer said.
A special team headed by Additional Commissioner of Police (East) P Harishekaran is investigating the case. “I am personally monitoring the case besides interrogating Mahesh. Nothing substantial has come out so far and it will take us some more time to come to a conclusion,” Harishekaran said.
Earlier Report
Pavagad bids tearful farewell to Gauthami
Tumakuru, Apr 3 (DHNS): Hundreds of grieving people, family members, friends and local politicians bade a tearful adieu to Gauthami, a Second PU student who was shot dead by an attender at Pragathi College hostel in Bengaluru on Tuesday night, at a crematorium here on Thursday.
The mortal remains of Gauthami were consigned to flames by her father Ramesh amid tight police security.
Earlier, thousands of people from the town and from various villages in the taluk thronged the residence of Gauthami to pay their last respects.
MLA K M Timmarayappa, former minister Venkataramanappa, former MLA Somlanaik, BJP Raitha Morcha State general secretary S Shivaprasad, MLC Saravanan, people's representatives in the taluk and neighbouring Andhra paid homage to the girl, a victim of cruel fate.
College in Gauthami’s memory MLC Saravanan has said that an educational institution, in the town, in memory of Gauthami, will be set up soon to help students from poor background pursue their education. He would hold talks with MLA Timmarayappa in this regard soon, the MLC added.
‘Do not broadcast’
Meanwhile, Gauthami’s father Ramesh was seen pleading the members from electronic media not to broadcast stories floated by vested interests. “My daughter is a girl of high moral integrity. Her untimely death has rattled family members and friends. A few channels carried the story in a bad taste. Please don’t indulge in character assassination of my daughter,” he pleaded.
He urged the government to expedite the probe and bring the culprit/s to book.
The bandh call given by various organisations, condemning the brutal murder of an innocent girl from the town, evoked a good response. Shops and business establishments downed shutters in support of the bandh call.