Keshav Shetty murder case: five accused arrested

 

Mangaluru, 10 Jan 2015: Cracking the murder case of a businessman who was brutally hacked to death by a gang at Soorinje on January 6, Surathkal police have arrested four persons on Saturday, January 10.

 

Keshava Shetty

 

Keshava Shetty (40), a BJP worker was attacked with lethal weapons on Tuesday, January 6 morning while he was on his way to a playground at Soorinje Kote  to practice badminton along with his friend Sampath V.

 

The accused identified as Soorinje resident Lithesh (25), Madya resident Shobaraj alias Shobi (23), Delatanthabettu resident Yuvraj alias Appu (23) Kinnigoli Menabettu resident Krishna (19) and Bharath were arrested near Horanadu at5.30 a.m. Sachi alias Sathish, the main accused is said to be absconding.

 

He was also involved in the murder of Manikantan near Chelyaru and murder attempt on businessman Vijayendra Bhat at Ballal Bagh.

 

Addressing the press persons here on Saturday, January 10, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Santosh Babu said that Sathish and Lithesh had threatened Keshava for hafta in different occasions. Keshava  had also registered a complaint against Sathish in Surathkal Police Station and had gone to Lithesh’s house along with his friends and threatened him of dire consequences if he would demand hafta again. This had raged both Sathish and Lithesh who hatched a conspiracy to murder Keshava along with Yuvraj, Shobaraj, and Krishna.

 

Santosh Babu said the accused had attempted to murder Keshava during earlier occasions but had failed.

 

On the fateful day the accused hid themselves in the bushes located near the shuttle grounds and when Keshava came there they hacked him to death, he added.

 

While Lithesh, Yuvraj, Krishna and Shobaraj were arrested for being directly involved in the murder, Bharath was arrested as he was the one who had informed the accused that Keshav had breathed his last and also had shifted their motorbike to another location.

 

The DCP clarified that personal enmity was the reason for the premeditated murder and not drug mafia as alleged by the BJP members and few others.

 

Surathkal Police Inspector M A Natraj, PSI Ravishankar C and other personnel Krishna B K, Raja and Santosh arrested the accused under the directions of Mangaluru City Police Commissioner S Murugan, DCP Vishnuvardhan, DCP Santosh Babu and ACP Ravi Kumar S.