Hubballi police shoot at two murder accused hours after brutal crime, 4 cops injured

HUBBALLI: The police shot at two murder accused on Saturday, hours after they had brutally stabbed to death another youth on Friday night. The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of the Old Hubballi police station in which two police officers and a constable sustained injuries.

On Friday night, Sudeep, Kiran and a few others stabbed Shivaraj to death over 30 times and hit him on the head with a machete at least four to five times, near Gopanakappa. The duo was picked up by the police and they agreed to take the police to where the other suspects were.

The murder suspects in hospital after being shot in the leg.

When they reached the spot, the duo attacked the policemen leaving three of them injured. Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said, “About 6-7 people suddenly attacked Shivaraj (23) with deadly weapons, leading to his death on the spot. The police arrested three people in connection with the murder on Friday night. Two of them offered to provide information about the others involved and led the police to the old railway quarters premises under Old Hubballi police station limits where they suddenly attacked the policemen and tried to escape”.

The injured police officers and personnel in hospital.

“Two police sub-inspectors, Sathannavar and Manju, in order to protect their men and to prevent the suspects from getting away, fired three rounds in the air and later fired three rounds at the accused Sudeep and Kiran. They were taken into custody and admitted to KIMS Hospital”, he said.

“Two policemen, Parashuram and Shabbu, sustained injuries while PSIs Manju and Sathannavar also sustained minor injuries. All are out of danger. Preliminary information has revealed that there was some previous enmity and financial dispute. The family members have named four people in the complaint — Sudeep, Kiran, Karthik and Abhisehk Jadhav. Apart from this, others may also be involved and they will be arrested”, the police commissioner said.

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashikumar briefing the media.

Further, Shashikumar said, “The family members say Shivaraj was a normal person and would stay away from trouble. Some of his friends say that when they had gone to the Saudatti Yellamma jatra there had been some friction with the accused. We will question the accused about the motive for the brutal murder. The victim suffered 5-6 cuts in the head with a machete and was stabbed more than 30 times”.

“This is a very brutal murder and much criminal thought may have gone into executing it. They would have made some preparation before the offence, on how to execute it and how to behave later. Whether it’s gangs or individuals, they will have to face the law”, he added.