RTI activist murder: Cops confirm arrest of third supari killer as Naresh seeks bail

Mangaluru, Apr 14: The police have confirmed the arrest of third supari killer in connection with the murder of 51-year-old Right-to-Information activist Vinayak Panduranga Baliga in the city.

Shivaprasad and Naresh Shenoy

Shivaprasad (28), a resident of Panjimogaru, was formally arrested on Wednesday, police sources said.

With this, the police have arrested three persons in the case. The police had arrested two supari killers – Vineeth Poojary and Vishith Devadia – on March 27.

However, the cops so far have failed to arrest the ones who plotted the murder and gave supari to the contract killers.

The police said that Shivaprasad was the one who hit Baliga hard on his head leading to the latter's death.

Shivaprasad was with the other accused, Vineet Poojary and Nishit Devadiga, when they attacked Baliga near his house on March 21.

Police sources said that they came to know about the involvement of Shivaprasad and Srikant (40), a resident of Shantinagara, Kavoor, during the interrogation of the arrested duo.

The police said that a search is on for Srikant who has been accused of hiring the three arrested persons for murdering Baliga.

Meanwhile, founder of Mangaluru unit of NaMo Brigade (Yuva Brigade) Naresh Shenoy has filed anticipatory bail application before the II Additional District and Sessions Judge Court here.

Mr. Shenoy, whom the police want to question in connection with the murder, has been reported to be at large since the day of the crime.

The court has now asked the Public Prosecutor to file objections to the bail application.