Police open fire at three accused in Congress leader’s murder

KOLAR: The police opened fire at the alleged killers of Congress leader Srinivas in the Lakshmisagar forest range when they were being brought to Kolar after their arrest.

The police had arrested three of the six accused in the murder case. Vemgal inspector Venkatesh shot Venugopal and Muneendra in the leg while the third accused also sustained injuries. Inspector Venkatesh and police personnel Manjunath and Nagesh were also injured in the incident.

Venugopal, Muneendra and Santhosh.

The police are on the lookout for four more people involved in the case. Superintendent of Police Narayan visited the hospital and inquired on the condition of the injured police personnel and the accused.

In a related incident, a police vehicle which was escorting the amublance carrying the body of Congress leader Srinivas from R L Jalappa hospital to Srinivasapura met with an accident near the Kolaramma temple on Monday night.

A police vehicle escorting an ambulance met with an accident on Monday night.

The police vehicle hit a motorcycle and the rider sustained serious injuries. The police shifted the injured to a hospital while the police MPV driver also sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the body of Srinivas was kept for public viewing at his residence in Srinivasapura and the last rites will be conducted at his farm house later in the day.

Minister K H Muniyappa paying his last respects to Srinivas.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa and MLA G K Venkatashivareddy were among those who paid their last respects to the deceased. They also offered their condolences to the family.

Speaking to media persons later, the minister said, “Whatever the rivalry may be, no one should resort to violent means. Srinivas had supported me in the last four Lok Sabha elections. The police should take stringent action against the attackers”. Mulbagal former MLA H Nagesh and Bangarpet MLA S N Narayanaswamy also paid their last respects.

It is said that Srinivas and Venugopal had old rivalry between them after the latter’s house was attacked five years also. So he paid supari to Muneendra and Santhosh to eliminate Srinivas, sources said. Srinivas was stabbed 17 times and also attacked with a sword, they said.