Star of Mysore
Bangalore, Apr 14 : Retired Additional Superintendent of Police and KPTCL Chief Vigilance Officer K.S. Thammaiah (60), who was a nightmare for rowdies during his days in Mysore, was brutally murdered by miscreants near Anantapura Gate, Yelahanka New Town in Bangalore last night. Thammaiah's car driver Manju has sustained grievous injuries in the attack.
The miscreants hacked Thammaiah to death when he was travelling in his car to his brother Kaverappa's farm house near Kenchanahalli at 8 pm.
A gang of four persons, who were standing on the roadside chatting among themselves, pelted stones on his car.
As the driver stopped the car, the miscreants dragged Thammaiah out of the vehicle and brutally assaulted him with lethal weapons.
Thammaiah, who was lying in a pool of blood, was shifted to M.S. Ramaiah Hospital by the Police on receiving information from the passersby. He breathed his last at 12.50 am, according to Police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Basavaraj Malagatti suspected that old enmity could be the reason as it was not a murder for gain.
Thammaiah, who hailed from Kodagu, joined the Police Department as a Sub-Inspector and earned a reputation for his efficiency and honesty.
Relatives gathered near hospital
The then Police Commissioner Kasturirangan had handpicked Inspector Thammaiah to lead the Anti-Rowdy Squad with Puttaswamygowda and Dharmesh as his companions.
During his regime as Police Commissioner, Kempaiah too continued the same team and gave a free hand to them to deal with the rowdy elements.
The rowdies used to shiver at the very mention of Thamm-aiah's name and the Squad.
After serving for several years in Mysore, he was transferred to Nanjangud on promotion as Dy. SP and later served as Additional SP at Hassan.
After his retirement, the then H.D. Kumaraswamy-led Government, considering his honesty and efficiency, appointed him as KPTCL's Chief Vigilance Officer in Bangalore, where he unearthed several cases of large-scale power thefts.
Thammaiah leaves behind his wife and a daughter.
Assailants leave behind mobile
The assailants involved in the murder of K.S. Thammaiah have left behind a vital clue. The Police recovered a mobile phone from the scene of the crime which will help in tracking down the culprits.
Power theft mafia’s role suspected
The Police, who have launched investigation into the murder of K.S. Thammaiah, suspect the hand of power theft mafia behind the crime.
The Bangalore Police have formed four teams to continue the investigation under the supervision of Dy. Commissioners of Police Ma-lagathi and Syed Ulfat Hussein.
The clues available in the mobile phone left behind by the ass-ailants have hinted at the role of the people involved in power theft.
Thammaiah, after assuming charge as Vigilance Officer of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL), had waged a virtual war against those involved in power theft in the State.
He unearthed several major power theft cases and plugged pilferage of power inviting the wrath of influential persons allegedly involved in the scam.
It may be mentioned here that Energy Minister K.S. Eshwa-rappa had lauded the efficiency of Thammaiah saying that the officer had saved power and recovered large sums by way of fines from those involved in power thefts.