Police shoot at habitual offender

The city police shot at a habitual offender who was trying to escape after attacking a police constable near Hennur railway station on Wednesday night.

The accused, Dinesh (30), is a resident of Kothanur and had over 16 warrants pending against him. He was on the run, police said.

Based on a tip-off, a team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mahadevappa cornered Dinesh at an isolated place near Hennur railway station, where he was hiding. The police asked Dinesh to surrender, but in his bid to escape, he charged at head constable Dharma with a dagger. The constable sustained injuries following which ACP Mahadevappa shot at Dinesh, injuring him on both legs.

The police shifted Dharma and Dinesh to hospital where both are recovering.

According to the police, Dinesh is a contract killer involved in the murder of Palani, a rowdy. He is also an accused in the attempt-to-kidnap case involving Vinay Bidre, the personal assistant of Opposition leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa in May 2017. Dinesh was also involved in criminal cases in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, police said.

Dinesh used under-construction buildings as hideouts and made threat calls to businessmen and shopkeepers to extort money, police said.

He was arrested and released on bail.