Bengaluru schoolgirl shot dead in hostel

The accused, Mahesh, whose advances were rejected by the girl, fled the scene and the police have launched a manhunt.

Gauthami, who was shot dead at the hostel of a Bengaluru school by an attender of the school on Tuesday night. Photo: Special Arrangement

In a shocking incident that brought to the fore both safety on school premises and the easy availability of illegal firearms in the city, Gautami, a 17-year-old student, was shot dead in her hostel room at a residential school by a school attendant on Tuesday night.

Mahesh K, 38, later shot at and injured another girl in the hostel with his 9-mm calibre country pistol before escaping. He was nabbed by the police on Wednesday afternoon, and he had allegedly shot the girls because they complained about his behaviour to the management.

The police said Gautami, hailing from Pavagada in Tumkuru, was aspiring to become a doctor and was preparing for the common entrance examination. The injured student, Shirisha, also hailing from the same area, is being treated at a private hospital here.

The incident took place around 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Pragathi PU College, which also has a hostel on its premises in Kadugodi, near Whitefield.

Police sources said Mahesh, an errand boy at the hostel, barged into the hostel room on the third floor while the victim was sleeping. “He shot her twice at point blank range with a country-made pistol before walking into the adjacent room where Shirisha was sleeping. He knocked on the door and tried to shoot at her when she opened. However, the pistol did not fire and he reloaded the weapon and fired at her. The bullet brushed the left side of her face, and she collapsed,” Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said.

Girls had complained about killer

While Mahesh was fleeing the scene, a student confronted him. When he tried to fire at her, the weapon got jammed. He later escaped.

Another student, Nischita, was in the room with Gautami. “Since she was in deep sleep, she claimed she did not hear any commotion,” Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said.

Police sources said Mahesh, an errand boy at the hostel, barged into the hostel room on the third floor while the victim was asleep. “He shot her twice at point-blank range before walking into the adjacent room where Shirisha was asleep. He knocked on the door and tried to shoot at her when she opened the door. However, the pistol did not fire and he reloaded the weapon and fired at her. The bullet brushed the left side of her face, and she collapsed,” Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said.

Mahesh reportedly had frequent arguments with Gautami and Shirisha. The two had complained to the principal about him. Mahesh has been working in the college for two years. “He used to direct students not to talk to anyone, including teachers and principal. The two girls had humiliated him in front of others, questioning his dominating behaviour,” said Mr. Reddi. The police said Gautami was preparing for the common entrance examination for medical courses. Shirisha has been admitted to a private hospital here.