Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Updated
Mangaluru, Apr 29: The Vittal police have arrested 11 persons, including two aides of underworld element Vicky Shetty, in connection to the brutal murder of Karopadi gram panchayat vice-president Abdul Jaleel alias Jaleel Karopadi that took place on April 20.
Addressing a press meet at the SP office here on Saturday April 29, IGP (western range) Harishekharan said that the arrested are Rajesh Naik, Narasimha Shetty, a resident of Mani, Prajwal, a resident of Belandoor, Pushparaj and Sachin both from Savanoor, Roshan, Sathish Rai of Kanyaya, Keshava of Veerakamba, Prashanth of Krishnapura, Vachan of Kanyaya and Puneeth, a resident of Savanoor.
"Taking serious note of the murder that was committed in broad daylight, we formed five teams to investigate case. We have recovered 11 bicycles, two machetes, and an Omni car from the accused.
"The prime accused are Rajesh Naik, a resident of Kanyaya who runs a shamiyana shop, and Narasimha Shetty. We took them into custody from Udupi and during questioning, it was revealed that they are aides of underworld element Vicky Shetty. We then arrested the others in Puttur," the IGP said.
Accused Rajesh Naik and Sathish Rai are rowdy-sheeters, with four cases each registered in Vittal police station. Narasimha Shetty is an accused in two cases.
Jaleel Karopadi
Regarding motive behind the murder, the IGP said, "On December 17, 2016, Rajesh Naik and others were doing some work at Mittanadka in Karopadi, when three persons, identified as Nawaf, Sajab and Khaleel came towards them in a bike and happened to throw dust on them. Rajesh took them to task for their action, and in response, Nawaf, Sajab, Khaleel, Sulaiman Khalandar and two or three others came back with rods and wooden sticks and assaulted the other party. A complaint was also filed alleging that Rajesh's friend Ramesh were subjected to caste abuse.
"Rajesh, who was insulted and assaulted in public by the accused, suspected that the slain Karopadi gram panchayat vice-president Jaleel was supporting the accused. A case was registered against Rajesh and his accomplices, and it was suspected that Jaleel was behind it. For this reason, Rajesh harboured a grudge against Jaleel," the IGP said.
Moreover, in 2015, during the gram panchayat elections, underworld element Vicky Shetty's cousin Dinesh Shetty was an aspirant for vice-president's post, and Vicky Shetty had backed him. However, the post went to Jaleel, much to the chagrin of Vicky Shetty.
The IGP also said that there were constant conflicts between Jaleel and Dinesh Shetty over every important matter in Karopadi gram panchayat. Dinesh Shetty would call up Vicky Shetty constantly and complain that Jaleel was not giving him any importance during discussions in the gram panchayat.
SP Bhushan G Borase and additional SP Vedamurthy were.present at the press meet.
Other sources had earlier said the accused nursed a grudge against Jaleel because of the support he extended to a Muslim youth recently relating to his love affair with a Hindu girl. They also were jealous about his increasing popularity and political stature, it was said.
Initial reports had said that Jaleel's killers had come in two bikes and that they had fled towards Kerala through different routes after the killing. Therefore it was assumed that they belonged to Kerala.