Gangs of Nelamangala
Tags:
JD(S) leader and former BEML factory employee, Krishnappa, 50, who was brutally murdered Wednesday night on the Tumkur highway near Harishinakuntte reportedly paid with his life for getting entangled in the rivalry between two cousins, who were once partners in crime, but later parted ways, swearing to make the other pay.
When the cousins, Bethanagere Seena alias Srinivas 34 and Bethanagere Shankara, 29, of Bethanagere village near the Golden Palms Resort, off the Tumkur Main Road, were friends, they carried out a series of murders and highway robberies, indulged in extortion and all sorts of other crimes. Their partnership of eight years, between 1997 and 2004, saw over 60 cases being filed against them. Once they parted ways, however, the terror they unleashed took another form. They now turned on each other and the years since have seen nearly 11 of their associates murdered in revenge killings. If Seena’s associate was killed, he promptly eliminated one of Shankara’s associates and vice versa. The cousins were finally caught and put in different jails. Seena, who came out of jail just eight months ago, was reportedly furious with JD(S) leader, Krishnappa because he supported Shankara and so allegedly ordered his killing Wednesday night. It is now believed that Shankara who is still in Dharwad prison is already planning a murder of his own in retaliation.
It was the murder of Shankara’s associate, Lohit Gowda that led to the final parting of ways between the cousins, prompting Seena to form his own gang in 2004. That the JD(S) leader was funding Shankara did not go down well with Seena, who allegedly made an unsuccessful attempt on his life on the Nelamangala-Doddaballapura Road in 2009. Krishnappa took a bullet, but survived. He was not as lucky Wednesday night.
The other victims of the cousins’ rivalry include Seena’s brother-in-law, Hyadalu Devendrappa, gram panchayat member, Krishna Murthy, advocate Devaraj, party worker Basavaiah, and advocate Ravi. In 2010, Seena himself survived an attempt on his life in the Ramnagar jail and again in March 2011, when Shankara’s associate, Tibet alias Balaji Rao smuggled in a country-made revolver and opened six rounds of fire on him in the Mysore jail. Shankara also tried to get Seena killed while he was in Gulbarga prison by smuggling in a revolver in June 2011.
Although Shankara who was recently picked up Central Crime Branch sleuths, has reportedly told them he and 20 of his associates want to give up crime and marry their lovers in a mass ceremony, the police is taking no chances. With Seena reportedly taking shelter in Kerala, the revenge killings are expected to rise.
Post new comment