Police nab absconding accused in Naveen Bhandary murder at Mijar

Team Udayavani, May 29, 2019, 1:32 PM IST

Mangaluru: Police have arrested two persons in connection with the murder of Naveen Bhandary (28) from Barke, Kundottu in Badagayedapadavu at midnight on May 17 in front of a hotel near Daddi Cross, Dhoomachadavu, Mijar.

The accused were nabbed from Palimar near Padubidri by the anti rowdy squad of the north division under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of police Srinivas Gowda.

The arrest was made as per the orders of the Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil, under the guidance of deputy police commissioners Hanumantharaya and P S Laxmi Ganesh with the participation of Bajpe police inspector Parashiva Murthy. The accused have confessed to their crime, inform the police.

The accused

The arrested are identified as Pongu alias Ramesh, son of Chandra Shettigar from Chattaipade House in Badaga Yedapadavu and Nithyananda alias Doobli (41), son of the late Monappa Saphaliga from Madaga in Badaga Yedapadavu village.

The motive

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they murdered Naveen since he was harassing Nithyananda by not repaying a loan of Rs 20,000 he had borrowed sometime back. The accused were also taken to the murder spot to assist the police in further investigation.

The altercation

On the night of May 17, Naveen had left his scooter near Dhoomachadatu and had left for Ganjimath in a motor bike. Meanwhile, the accused noticed that Naveen’s scooter parked at Daddi Cross and lay in wait for his arrival. Upon Naven’s arrival with a friend Avinash, he was confronted by Ramesh and Nithyananda, questioning him on why he failed to respond to their calls.

The murder

Consequently, a fight broke out between the trio, however Avinash intervened and tried to stop the fight, which he achieved to some extent. But all of a sudden, Ramesh picked up a cudgel and brought it down on Naveen’s head in a fit of anger. The force of the strike was to such an extent that Naveen’s brain literally popped out of his head. Realising the consequence of their action, the duo fled.

Meanwhile, Avinash informed Naveen’s family of the incident and Chetan, who is the brother of the deceased, accompanied by others shifted Naveen to the hospital, all but too late to save his life.

Bajpe police have registered a case in this connection.