Rowdy attacks cops to escape arrest; shot on the leg

The Kengeri Gate police shot a rowdy on the leg when he tried attacking them to escape arrest on Tuesday morning.

The rowdy, Arun, was picked up at Vishweshwara Layout in Kengeri as he was wanted for the murder of a man named Pratap in Jnanabharathi.

The police said PSI Mallikarjun, head constable Ravi and constable Prakash were taking Arun in a jeep to show him the house of another accused in the murder, Kencha, near Ullal. When the jeep slowed down at Kengeri's Vishweshwara Layout, Arun shoved the officers and jumped off the Bolero vehicle, pushing open the back door.

Constable Prakash went after him even as the rowdy picked up a stone and tried to hit his head. PSI Mallikarjun drew his pistol and shot in the air, warning Arun to drop the stone and surrender. When Arun disregarded his warning, the police officer shot him on the left leg. Both Prakash and the rowdy were bundled into the jeep and taken to Victoria Hospital.

The police formed three special teams to probe Pratap's murder under Kengeri police sub-division ACP Prakash S. The probe revealed Arun's role and the connection of his brother Kiran and two friends Mahesh and Dileep to the murder.

The police received a tip-off that the accused were staying in the Classic Comforts lodge in Jaraganahalli on Kanakapura Road. "In the early hours of Tuesday, the police team raided the lodge and arrested all the four, including Arun," said DCP (West) Ravi Channannavar.

During questioning, Arun revealed Kencha's involvement and the police took him to show his house in Ullal.

The police also said Arun and the deceased Pratap were involved in lending hand loans. They had differences and parted company. "On August 15, Arun called Pratap for his son's birthday party where his associates picked up a quarrel, took him outside and hacked him to death," Channannavar said.