In what appears to be the fallout of a festering gang rivalry, four people barged into the house of a man from a rival gang and hacked him to death in broad daylight at Anjanappa Gardens in Cottonpet. The target of the attack, 40-year-old Gajendra alias Guppa, died on the spot.
Preliminary investigations have led the police to suspect that the assailants were led by Gajendra’s nephew Suri, himself a notorious gangster. The two had allegedly fallen out over turf issues.
The incident sent shock waves through the neighbourhood with people deserting the streets and rushing indoors. A large police force was deployed to maintain law and order.
Police sources said although the murderous attack was carried out in full public view around noon, few people came forward to give information about the crime out of fear.
The few that spoke to the police said Gajendra was sitting in front of his house and relaxing when Suri and three others arrived on the spot in a car. Sensing trouble, Gajendra tried to run indoors. But the attackers managed to force their way into the house and injured him grievously.
Seconds later, a blood-soaked Gajendra burst out of the house with his attackers in hot pursuit. According to one version, they chased him through the narrow bylanes of the locality until he fell dead. According to another version, he died right outside his house.
Manhunt launched
The police launched a massive manhunt for Suri and his gang even as some local residents told presspersons that the present situation was a result of negligence on the part of the police. One resident even accuse the police of complicity. “How could somebody carry out such a planned attack without any fear?” a resident sought to know.
Incidentally, this is the fourth daylight murder in the city in the last fortnight.
