Rowdy-sheeter Umesh Rai's killers nabbed
Police succeeded in nabbing four accused, involved in the murder of notorious rowdy sheeter Umesh Rai, who was said to be a conspirator against Muthappa Rai.
The main accused in the case Jayaraj Shetty, a resident of Badagannur village, was arrested near Papemajalu in Ariyadka village on Thursday. Meanwhile, his accomplice Ammanna Rai alias Thimmanna Rai of Papemajalu, a relative of Muthappa Rai, Ramachandra Naika and Ramakrishna Naika of Badagannur were also arrested immediately after Shetty’s arrest.
Umesh Rai was missing from his house at Padeelu Vijayanagara Layout in Puttur on March 26. Rai’s wife Sowmya Rai, in a complaint filed on March 31, had stated that he had left home saying that he was going to the house of his friend Jayaraj in Ishwaramangala.
Rai reportedly told Sowmya over phone on March 27 that he is staying in Jayaraj’s house in Ishwaramangala.
She also had stated in the complaint that Jayaraj had called her on March 30 to inform that Umesh Rai has been picked up by Belgaum police in connection with an investigation.
Addressing media persons here on Friday, Superintendent of Police Dr A Subramanyeshwar Rao said that the police investigation team found that Jayaraj was away from his house for the past 90 days.
Police started tracking Jayaraj’s movements and came to understand that he is coming back to his village.
Following this, Jayaraj was picked up Papemajalu, he added.
During the interrogation, police found that the suspicion of Ammanna Rai of Umesh Rai conspiring against Muthappa Rai was the reason for murder. “Miscreants murdered Umesh Rai using a hammer at Jayaraj’s house in Anile in Badagannur village at around 3.30 pm on March 27. Later, they buried the body and destroyed the evidence,” the SP said.
The slain Umesh Rai was accused in 18 cases including robbery, murder attempts and assault.
Meanwhile, Jayaraj, who is also a rowdy sheeter as per police records, is facing charges in six different cases, Rao said adding that Jayaraj has confessed of committing the crime with the help of his accomplices.
To a query regarding the involvement of Muthappa Rai, the SP said that so far it has not been established. However, he said, “we will look into the matter.”
Body to be exhumed
The SP said that the body of Umesh Rai will be exhumed on Saturday for forensic analysis. The body will be exhumed in the presence of Puttur Assistant Commissioner, he said adding that the police will seek custody of the accused for seven days to complete the investigation.
DH News Service
