Pramesh S Jain
JP Nagar Police have arrested a woman in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter Raju alias Halmurka Raju in Bengaluru’s JP Nagar,taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.
The arrested accused has been identified as Akshatha, who police say played a crucial role in helping the assailants locate the victim before the murder.
According to investigators,Akshatha,who was allegedly associated with the Bat Santu gang,tracked Raju’s movements and informed the killers about his whereabouts.
CCTV footage reportedly shows her arriving on a two-wheeler and leading the assailants,who were travelling in a car,to the exact location where Raju was present.
Police had earlier arrested four accused, including the prime accused Santu alias Bat Santu.
The murder is believed to have been carried out as revenge for the earlier killings of Stand Kutti and Bat Santu’s brother-in-law,stemming from a rivalry that had continued for nearly a decade.
Another CCTV angle has revealed the brutality of the attack.
The accused allegedly chased and hacked Raju to death with long machetes in the middle of a busy road, showing little regard for public safety.
The footage also captures a woman walking nearby with a young child.
As the armed assailants ran through the street wielding machetes, the terrified woman struggled to shield the child before fleeing to safety once the attackers passed.
After murdering Raju,the accused allegedly escaped from the scene in a car.
Senior officer said the investigation is continuing and efforts are underway to gather further evidence and establish the roles of any additional conspirators.
