: Following the murder of Zilla Panchayat member Yogeeshgouda Goudar on Wednesday, the Hubballi-Dharwad police have stepped up their investigation but are clueless about the possible motive behind the murder.
While the murder has sent shockwaves across the otherwise calm city of Dharwad, the police are investigating the case from every possible angle as the case has already led to political repercussions.
Both the former State BJP president, Pralhad Joshi and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, have already taken exception to the remark made by Home Minister G. Parameshwara in Bengaluru that real-estate deals could be the reason for the murder.
Both Mr. Shettar and Mr. Joshi have issued separate statements that such comments by the Home Minister could mislead the investigation.
Meanwhile, BJP State vice-president M. Nagaraj has urged for a CBI inquiry into the case.
Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad Pandurang Rane, who visited the spot, expressed confidence that the case would be solved without much delay.
He, however, did not see any need for forming a special team to investigate the murder.
He said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mallikarjun Baladandi would investigate the case.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that it was a planned attack carried out at a time when there was gap between sessions at the gym. Incidentally none of the caretakers of the gym were present at the time of the attack.
The police hope to get some footage of the assailants from the surveillance camera installed at Saptapur Circle here.
Yogeeshgouda’s brother Uday Goudar was shot at point blank range near Tapovana in Dharwad in 2000 and the dispute over the chairmanship of a school in Morab village in Navalgund taluk was reportedly considered as the reason.
Subsequently, Yogeeshgouda’s another brother Gurunathgouda was arrested and jailed on charges of murdering Zilla Panchayat member from Morab, Hanchinal. Subsequently the Goudar and Hanchinal family reportedly reached a truce. Meanwhile, there were reports about the deceased having an altercation with a group in Old Dharwad on Tuesday night.
According to police sources, the investigation would cover all angles including old rivalry, land deals, property dispute and any political connection.
