Congress functionary and former Zilla Panchayat member D.C. Sannaswamy is one among the accused in the murder of a youth near Nidugere in Sakleshpur taluk. The body of Ajay Satpal, a resident of Nidugere village, was found late on Monday night at the sand collection point close to Hemavati backwaters.
A gang of 15-16 people hacked him to death. Santhosh, an associate of Ajay Satpal, was also assaulted. Based on the complaint filed by Arun Satpal, brother of the deceased, Yeslur Police have registered the complaint against 15 people including Sannaswamy. So far the police have taken five youths into custody in connection with the case. Sannaswamy is absconding.
The accused and the victim were all involved in sand business in the taluk. According to sources, Sannaswamy has taken over around 10 sand collection points in the taluk through tenders in benami names. He has deputed his henchmen to handle these points. The workers get a share in the profit, while a major share goes to Sannaswamy.
Ajay Satpal was one among such youths, deputed by Sannaswamy to handle the sand collection point near Nidugere till recently.
In the last two months, differences cropped up over money matters, forcing Sannaswamy to handover the collection point to another group of youths led by Kumar. Since then Ajay Satpal and Kumar were at loggerheads. According to a police officer, the two gangs had differences for many months. The local police had called in both the gangs to the police station recently over the clashes between them. Ajay is also a rowdy-sheeter with a few criminal cases against him.
Protest
Several progressive organisations in Sakleshpur staged a protest on Tuesday demanding the arrest of the accused and strict measures to curb illegal mining in the taluk. The protesters took the name of Congress leader Sannaswamy as the main accused in the incident.
Sannaswamy has been with the Congress for many years. He was a member in the ZP from 2002-06. He contested for Sakleshpur Assembly constituency in 2008 and lost.
Former MLA H.M. Vishwanath, also a Congress leader, said Sannaswamy and others involved in illegal extraction and transportation of sand created a sense of fear among the public. “Youths who got some money by involving in illegal activities with the support of certain leaders have formed their own groups and fight with rival gangs. Many such instances have been reported in the recent days. Some government officials are also involved in the illegal activities”, he alleged.
