Two security guards of the Sharanabasaveshwar Temple were arrested on Monday here in connection with the death of senior journalist and writer Linganna Satyampet (68) in mysterious circumstances.
Linganna Satyampet’s body was found in a drain under a makeshift shop near the main gate of the Sharanabasaveshwar temple complex in Gulbarga on July 26.
Inspector General of Police (North Eastern Range) Mohammad Wazir Ahmed and Superintendent of Police Praveen Pawar told presspersons that they had arrested two security guards identified as Dayanand Beerappa Pujari (38) and Shamrao Sharanappa Pujari (38). Both of them were there on duty on July 25 at the temple, the police said. The duo were picked up by the police based on the information provided by two makeshift shop owners outside the main gate of the temple complex, identified as Sharanu and Raju.
The police claimed that the arrested duo had confessed that they had robbed Satyampet of his belongings, including a mobile, Rs. 150 in cash and other belongings including a few books and a bag before pushing his body in the drain.
In their confessional statement, the accused said that Satyampet was already dead before they pushed the body inside the drain after removing the shirt. According to Superintendent of Police Praveen Pawar, shop owner Sharanu had first noticed Satyampet alighting from an autorickshaw and vomiting profusely. He said he had informed security guard Dayanand that there was somebody in front of his shop who was in a serious uncomfortable condition. Dayanand then had tried to chase away Satyampet, who he thought was drunk. Mr. Satyampet remained unattended beside the main gate of the temple for nearly two hours. According to Dayanand, he along with another security guard Shyamrao Pujari, carried the body of Satyampet near the drain and checked the belongings and took away the mobile, Rs. 150 in cash and other belongings before pushing the body into the drain.Initially the police officials claimed it as a major breakthrough and had even announced a cash award of Rs 25,000 to the police personnel who cracked the case. However, when mediapersons pointed out several loose ends in the case and the absence of the post-mortem report, the police officials changed their stance and said that this was only an initial breakthrough and only after the receipt of the post-mortem report, a conclusion would be arrived at.
Mr. Ahmed said that he was satisfied by the way the investigation was proceeding and had no proposal before him to transfer the investigation to the CID as demanded by a section of society.
