Balakrishna Poojary, a manager of an institution linked to Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, has been taken into custody on charges of murder after a 23-year-old man was fatally knocked down by the former’s vehicle in Payyur near Belthangady on Wednesday morning.
The police changed the case from accident to murder following a massive demonstration by the victim’s relatives. The relatives of Dinesh Kumar, the victim, had lodged a complaint of murder.
The accident occurred around 8 a.m. on Payyur-Belal Road. Mr. Kumar, who had participated in a series of protests held in support of the family of a 17-year-old rape and murder victim from Ujire, was riding a motorcycle, which was rammed by an oncoming multi-utility vehicle driven by Mr. Poojary. The police said Kumar died on the spot.
As news spread, a large number of supporters of Dinesh Kumar including activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarody came to the spot. They raised slogans accusing Poojary and his supporters of attempting to remove Kumar’s body from the spot. They did not allow police to take away the body for autopsy and insisted on arresting Poojary and his supporters. MLA Vasant Bangera came to the spot and promised action. When the protestors continued the protest, police used mild force to disperse the crowd.
Superintendent of Police Shantanu Sinha said the police have registered a case based on the complaint filed Kumar’s relative. Ruling out allegation of tampering of evidence, Mr. Sinha said forensic experts were called to gather evidence from the crime scene.
Robbery bid foiled
A robber attacked a bank employee in Subhash Nagar with knife after he failed to snatch mobile phone on Saturday. The employee of the of Corporation Bank, who requested anonymity, said that as soon as he ventured out of his home an inebriated man asked him for money and then tried to snatch his mobile phone. When he resisted, the man cut him six or seven times on the hand with “some kind of kitchen knife”. He punched the robber on the face, who lost his balance, and ran. The area is very dark, secluded and bereft of streetlights, he said. A spokesperson of the Corporation Bank mentioned the incident when his reaction was sought on the attack on a woman at an ATM of the bank in Bangalore.
Train runs over woman
A 60-year-old woman was run over by a train in Kolya, near Ullal Railway Station, on Wednesday.
According to Government Railway police, Jayanti Prabhu, a resident of Dwarka Nagar in Kotekar, was returning home with grocery items for the house. She was knocked down by the train while trying to cross railway track. She was found dead by the side of the track on which trains move towards Kerala, the police said.
Fatal accident
A 55-year-old woman died after she was hit by a motorcycle in Kolya on Wednesday. Police said Kasturi was waiting at the Kolya bus stop when a motorcyclist who lost control over his vehicle rammed into her. Police said Kasturi died while she was being taken to a hospital. Police are searching for the person involved in the accident.
