None outside bank had a clue of Muralidhar's murder

Timely medical aid could have saved the life of Muralidhar, who was shot dead by an armed robber at the Chikkabanvara branch of Corporation Bank on Monday.

While escaping with the booty, the suspect rolled down the shutters of the bank from outside. The public outside  the bank hardly had knowledge of what had happened inside.

“Muralidhar was lying in a pool of blood for more than 15 minutes before the ambulance reached the bank,” Dasappa, cashier at the bank, told Deccan Herald.

Though the bank manager switched on the emergency siren, no one came to the rescue of those who were locked inside the bank. Even the employees of the bank and those in other offices in the upper floors of the building were unaware of the incident.

Those inside the bank broke open the window panes and cried for help. It was only then, some passersby opened the shutters, said Dasappa.

Dr Sujith, a senior doctor with the NRR Hospital, told Deccan Herald that Muralidhar was brought to the hospital around 4.30 pm. “When he was brought here, his pulse had stopped and he was almost braindead. A team of five doctors tried to revive him.

But, he suffered  cardiac arrest twice in quick succession. He died of hypovolemic shock and cardiac arrest. Hypovolemic shock is an emergency condition caused by severe blood loss, where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body,” he said.

“We heard someone was beaten up and rushed the ambulance there,” Dr Sujith said.
Muralidhar was a civil contractor and manager of Chamundeshwari petrol bunk in Chikkabanavara, owned by his friend Venkatesh. He was married to Parvathi. The couple has a son Rahul, studying in Class IX. The family resides at their newly built house situated close to the bank.

Muralidhar's mother Jayamma said that in the afternoon she had asked him to have his lunch before leaving home, but Muralidhar left the house telling her that he was not hungry.

M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner (Traffic and Security) was Muralidhar’s childhood friend.

“I was alerted about the incident when I was in a meeting at the office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police. I rushed to the hospital. I have lost a good friend,” he said.

The incident took place after Muralidhar deposited Rs nine lakh and was waiting for entry number.

“There are definite clues and we will arrest the assailant shortly,” said DCP (North) S N Siddaramappa.