Gang of eight arrested for triple murder in Tumakuru

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Mangaluru Muslim Youth Council (MMYC) has demanded a thorough investigation into the killing of three individuals whose charred bodies were found in a car at Kuchchangi Lake in Tumakuru district on March 21.

The police had identified the deceased as Shahul Hameed, 45; Ishaq Simam, 55; annd Siddiq Khader, 34, all hailing from Dakshina Kannada district.

The MMYC on Wednesday urged the state government to hand over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as they believe that there may be a larger network involved in the murders.

"The police have arrested two suspects, Patharaju and Gangaraju, in connection with the case. It has been revealed that the victims were lured with money before being murdered. This heinous act has shocked society," Junaid PK, General Secretary of MMYC said.

According to the Kora police, Patharaju and Gangaraju had claimed to have discovered a vessel filled with gold during an excavation and lured Ishaq and others into an attractive business deal.

The victims paid Rs 6 lakh to Patharaju who demanded Rs 50 lakh from them.

Later Patharaju started avoiding Ishaq and others as they suspected his deal and demanded their money to be returned.

Patharaju hatched a plot to kill Ishaq and called him asking him to meet him near Beeranakallu hills.

"When Ishaq, along with Siddiq and Hameed reached the spot in a car, they were attacked by an armed gang and were hacked to death. The gang later took their car with the bodies and set it ablaze using petrol near Kucchangi Lake," the police said.

COPS SHARE INSIGHTS

The cops on Wednesday said that a gang of eight people have been arrested so far in connection with the case.

The prime accused, Patharaju alias Rajaguru, 35, was a self-proclaimed priest of Sira Gate.

Investigating officers have reported that the prime accused has admitted to have received Rs 6 lakh from the victims under the pretext of a row over a treasure.

The accused, Gangaraju, 35; Madhusudhan, 24; Naveen, 24; Krishna, 22; Ganesh, 19; Kiran, 23; and Simon, 18, were charged with murder and destruction of evidence.

The police are further investigating to ascertain Patharaju’s criminal background.

It was also revealed that Patharaju and Gangaraju had hired a gang of college dropouts and unemployed youth in the area to carry out the murder.