The police arrested Yogish, the accused in the murder of a 19-year-old Ranjitha S., at Kadekar village near Udupi on Saturday.
Ranjitha, a second year B.A. student, was allegedly stabbed to death by Yogish, her relative, for spurning the latter’s love, at Kadekar near Malpe on November 27.
After stabbing the teenager, Yogish had escaped on a bicycle, which was found abandoned near a rivulet in Kadekar on November 29.
According to the police, Yogish was hiding in the woods near Kadekar for the last three days. He came out of the forest in search of food on Friday night and approached a dhaba owner for food at around 11.30 p.m.
The dhabha owner alerted the police. But before police could arrive, Yogish had fled and returned to the woods. The police launched a manhunt by combing the forest and found Yogish hiding under a tarpaulin in Kadekar. He fled after some women noticed him. The police gave a chase and finally caught him. Since Yogish had suffered bruises on his legs he was taken to the District Government Hospital for treatment. After the treatment, he was taken into custody for interrogation, the police said.
SI suspended
Superintendent of Police M.B. Boralingaiah has suspended the Sub-inspector of Malpe police station M. Jayanth for dereliction of duty against the backdrop of Ranjitha’s murder.
Ranjitha’s parents and Dalit Sangharsha Samiti had said the police had failed to provide adequate security to Ranjitha, despite her request for it.
Mr. Boralingaiah said Mr. Jayanth was suspended on Thursday evening following a preliminary inquiry after complaints of dereliction of duty in the Kadekar murder case. Mr. Jayanth will soon be facing a departmental enquiry, he said.
