Villagers cheer police after shootout in Mandya village

MANDYA: Residents of Kirugavalu in Malavalli taluk cheered the police after one of the accused in a murder case was shot at and arrested him in the wee hours on Friday. The police have arrested five people for the murder of a hotel owner who had witnessed a theft at a neighbouring jewellery store.

The main accused Kiran was arrested after a shootout when he attacked a police personnel, near Bheemanahalli in Malavalli taluk in the wee hours on Friday. He has been admitted to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS).

Kiran, along with Anand, Sharath, Srinivas and Krishnachari had committed a theft at Mahalakshmi Jewellery Store at Kirugavalu in Malavalli taluk on the night of August 17. The neighbouring hotel owner Madappa had witnessed the theft and hence, the gang suffocated him to death. The accused had stolen 110 gm of gold and 2 kg of silver from the jewellery store after breaking the shutter with a gas cutter.

On Friday evening, when the police brought the other accused to the scene of crime for spot inspection, a large crowd had gathered on the roads and atop buildings. The crowd cheered and hailed the police for shooting at one of the accused and arresting the other four.