Highway gang war kills 3
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In a scene reminiscent of Mumbai’s gang wars, three people were killed near Arasinakunte on Bengaluru-Tumkur Main Road around 8 pm on Wednesday after a gang of around 40 opened fire at Krishnappa alias BEML Krishnappa, a JD(S) member of the Bengaluru Rural Zilla Panchayat member representing T. Begur. Krishnappa, who celebrated his 50th birthday two months ago, was a resident of Binnamangala near Nelamangala and was a known as an anti-social element in Nelamagala. Krishnappa, who was earlier in Congress, joined JD(S) two years ago.
On Wednesday, Krishnappa left Hotel Samrat near Mantri Mall in a Mitsubishi Pajero (KA 42 Z 6669) with his gunman and two other vehicles in tow. A Mitsubishi Canter vehicle waylaid him when he was near Arasinakunte and when his SUV stopped, it was surrounded by eight vehicles – five Qualis and three Scorpios – leaving him with no way to escape. The vehicles had followed him from the hotel. The MUVs boxed Krishnappa’s vehicle in and when he tried ducking, around 40 people who were sitting in the Canter with their faces covÜered in monkey caps, opened fire at Krishnappa.
Soon, more attackers with machetes joined them and Krishnappa died on the spot. Two other bodies, which are yet to be identified, were found at the spot and are believed to be that of the attackers. The attackers also fired at passing vehicles. Fearing for their lives, many abandoned their vehicles on the highway and escaped, disrupting traffic.
Bengaluru Rural SP Dr Prakash said, “Around 40 accused had come in a Canter and Tempo Travellers between 7:45 pm and 8 pm and opened fire”. The attackers were fully prepared and had formed seven teams for the attack. They also attacked passing vehicles on either side of the highway between 8:30 pm and 8:45 pm. Police have found 25 machetes and three revolvers near the body. Five others are reported to have sustained bullet injuries of whom two are said to be critical. The injured are yet to be identified and have been admitted to a hospital nearby. However, all the attackers escaped. As the news of Krishnappa’s murder spread, his supporters from Binnamangala, who gathered on the highway, went berserk throwing stones at shops and passing vehicles, damaging nearly 60 of them, including KSRTC buses, lorries and private cars. They also set three KSRTC buses on fire. Police had to resort to lathicharge and also fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowds. The police have clamped prohibitory orders.
Traffic was thrown out of gear on the highway, including on the Nelamangala-Tumkur Elevated Expressway and was piled up for 5-6 km on the either side.
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