JD(S) leader hacked to death, angry followers block traffic on NH-4

Bangalore, July 25: BML Krishnappa, Leader of Opposition in Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat, was murdered by nearly 20 unidentified men who waylaid his car at Dasanapura near Nelamangala as he was returning home on Wednesday night. One of the assailants was also killed when the politician’s police guard opened fire.

Krishnappa, a JD(S) leader, had left Seshadripuram and was returning home when his car’s path was blocked by a canter parked horizontally on a service road at Dasanapura near Arishinakunte around 8.45 pm.

The canter had been tailing Krishnappa and his supporters who were travelling by two cars. It overtook Krishnappa’s car near a service road and blocked its way.

The scene left Krishnappa’s car sort of stuck between the canter in the front and vehicles of his supporters at the back. Some assailants were in the canter and a few others in a tempo and another car, Bangalore Rural SP, D Prakash, said.

One of them shot at Krishnappa while he was still in his car. Moments later, other assailants got out of their vehicle, dragged Krishnappa out of his car, and attacked him with lethal weapons. He died instantly.

Vijayakumar, a District Armed Reserve (DAR) constable posted to provide security to Krishnappa, opened fire at the gang of assailants, killing one and injuring another. The dead assailant’s identity is not known but his accomplices left his body and fled.

Krishnappa’s driver was also injured and his condition is serious. Three supporters of Krishnappa were also injured. Police suspect the leader’s murder to be revenge for the killing of Hadiyaala Devi, a member of Nelamangala taluk Panchayat and Krishnappa’s political rival. The JD(S) leader had got Devi killed by the gang of Beettanagere Shankar. Krishnappa, a native of Binnamangala in Kasaba hobli of Nelamangala taluk, was a ZP member from T Begur.

There was a similar attempt on his life two years ago.

Krishnappa’s supporters went on the rampage in Nelamangala, stoning vehicles and shops and disrupting traffic for two hours. Police had to resort to lathicharge to quell the mob. Seven private buses and some lorries were also stoned.

Besides, two KSRTC buses were torched. Police check posts have been formed at entry points in Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, and Ramanagar districts to apprehend the killers.