Police probe woman, property issues in rowdy murder

BENGALURU: Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have swung into action after notorious criminal Lakshmana was brutally murdered by a five-member gang in Mahalakshmi Layout on Thursday.

City police commissioner T Suneel Kumar on Friday transferred the case to CCB for further investigation.

A senior police officer said they have definite clues about the gang and claimed the real motive will be revealed once they nab the accused.

“We are probing the case from various angles, including past rivalry, property issues and clash over a woman,” said a senior police officer.

Lakshmana, who lived in Sunkadakatte, is the twin brother of Rama, another rowdy. The siblings were known as Rama-Lakshmana brothers in Bengaluru’s underworld and had specialised in grabbing land from people by using threats and violence.

Several CCB police teams are making efforts to trace Kalla Jagga and Hemanth alias Hemi, both rowdy-sheeters in Byadarahalli police station on the outskirts of west Bengaluru. Police suspect the SUV used in the crime by assailants belonged to Hemanth. “Srikanta, who is involved in several land grabbing cases, might also be actively involved in the case,” said a police officer.

Police, however, denied reports that some of the assailants including Srikanta had surrendered.

Police sources said Kalla Jagga, Hemanth and Srikanta were the close associates of Machcha Manja, who was murdered by the gang led by Rama-Lakshmana brothers in 2008 near Yelahanka.

“The suspected assailants of Lakshmana have been identified with various notorious gangs of criminals in Bengaluru. So, considering it the police commissioner transferred the case to CCB,” a police officer said.

Woman behind the murder plot

Police suspect that a woman might also be behind the murder plot. “Lakshmana left home by informing his wife that he would return home after meeting his friends near Yeshwantpur. But we found a hotel room key with Lakshmana. We learnt that he had booked a room in the hotel to meet a woman, who is close to Hemanth. So, we are trying to know whether Hemanth helped Kalla Jagga take revenge against Lakshamana over the woman’s issue or some other rivalry,” a police officer said.