Political differences suspected to be behind killing

 Brewing political differences with local MLA are said to have ended in the murder of Bommasandra Town Municipalty Council member (TMC) Srinivas Prasad alias Vasu.

Vasu was hacked to death by a group of men at Bommasandra Industrial area at 5.45 am on Tuesday. Anekal MLA Shivanna B and Vasu are relatives. But they were political rivals as Vasu identified himself with former minister A Naraya­na­swamy.

The relations strained when Shivanna used his influence to change the reservation for the post of president and vice-president in Bommasandra TMC after the local body polls in April 2016 to help Congress candidate. Vasu was aspiring to become the president as the BJP secured a majority in the 23-member TMC. Prior to the polls, the government had reserved the president’s post for SC (General).

Fearing losing his control in the constituency, Shivanna got the reservation changed to SC (Woman) to help the lone Congress member Sarojamma become the president, K C Ramachandra, former president, Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat, said. A disappointed Vasu successfully challenged the government changing reservation in the high court. Shivanna and his followers challenged the decision in the division bench of the Karnataka High Court. The case is still being heard, the police said.   
 
“There are over 70,000 SC voters in Anekal assembly constituency. Vasu was preparing to contest from the Anekal constituency from BJP in 2018 following former minister A Narayanswamy’s advice. Hence, he was organising a series of protests against the Congress party ” Raghavendra, the victim’s relative told DH.

“The Congress leaders considered Vasu as stumbling block in gaining control over Bommasandra TMC in particular and Anekal Assembly constituency in general,” he added.

On Monday night, Sarojamma’s son Manju hosted a party at his house in Bommasandra for his associates from Jayanagar and Siddapura. They reached Bommasandra Industrial Area around 4 am and murdered Vasu when he reached there, the police said. “They absconded after the murder. CCTV cameras in the area have recorded suspects’ movements,”  a senior police officer said.

Shivanna, however, rubbished the charges of his involvement in the murder. “These are baseless charges to tarnish my image,’’ he said demanding an impartial probe and punishment for the guilty. “It’s an unfortunate incident,” he said.