HJV activist murdered due to personal enmity; One accused nabbed

Team Udayavani, Sep 5, 2019, 11:18 AM IST

Puttur: The murder of Hindu Jagaran Vedike activists Karthik Suvarna Merla’s (27) murder appears to have taken place on account of personal enmity, said DSP Laxmi Prasad speaking about the murder of the activist who was knifed down late night on Tuesday September 3.

The DSP also informed that two teams have been formed for finding out and arresting the murderers and that two other accused would be nabbed shortly.

It is learnt that the deceased had friction with a couple of people over finances and it is assumed that the murder would have happened on account of this dispute. It is said that Preethesh from Uppala, who was driving the Ford Ecosport vehicle in which the accused had arrived to the spot, and has been accused of stabbing Karthik in the abdomen at the end of an argument is also the main accused. Apparently, he has a background of criminal activities. It is also learnt that one of the accused is said to be an office bearer of Ganeshotsava Samiti.

Meanwhile, Karthik’s corpse which was kept in the mortuary of the government hospital here, was shifted to a hospital at Deralakatte for autopsy on Wednesday.

The rural police here have registered a case regarding the crime based on the complaint filed by a relative of Karthik named Keshava Suvarna. Immediately after the incident, security was beefed up in the area and a contingent of Karnataka State Reserve Police was stationed near the rural police station. Close watch would be kept at the Ganeshotsava programmes where the idols have not yet been immersed, informed police sources.