Triple murder: Different theories emerge

A common friend of both gangs was in touch with them and was passing on information to both groups, police sources said, quoting a preliminary investigation report.

Common friend

Police say the common friend could be Chikkashyane Gowda alias Malashri. (Gowda was a great fan of actor Malashri and watched all her movies. Hence the nickname).

Different theories are cropping up even as the probe into the murders is deepening. It is said the suspects used one of their pals said to be close to Lambu Nataraj, Somashekhar and Balasubramani, to invite them to the wedding reception of Susheela, sister of Chikkashyane Gowda.

The killers decided to settle scores during the function as they suspected the trio was constantly trying to eliminate them.

Although the members of both gangs were armed to the teeth, none at the reception, including the hotel management, was aware of it, sources said.

One of the gangsters said the suspects had all hidden weapons tucked at the back under their shirts.

Closely monitored

The gang members, who were closely monitoring each other’s movement, decided to spend time on the third floor to make their job easy.

They said five men came in a car to the hotel around 9.15 pm. The assailants spent enough time on the ground floor to take position and study the situation on the second and third floors. Then they went upstairs to wish the new couple.

The gang realised Prashanth, Prabhakar and Umashankar were on the third floor.
They waited for the people to depart and then move on to the third floor where dinner was being served, to complete the task.

Hacked to death

Lambu Nataraj was the first to move up the stairs, while others followed him. The suspects, who were eating ice cream after dinner, got into the act. They whipped out the weapons, rushed towards the stairs and butchered Nataraj. He died within seconds. The gang then rushed down and hacked the other two, police said.

The suspects said they were provoked to use weapons. Prashanth, Prabhakar and Chikkashyane Gowda sustained injuries on their hands.

However, they managed to eliminate three, while two others managed to escape in a car. The police are now searching for the car.

“There are many missing links in their version. None of the five was able to use weapons though they were carrying them. This rules out the suspects’ version that they were provoked,” police said.

Police on lookout for lensmen

Three special teams constituted to apprehend four men wanted in the triple murder case at Malleswaram on Sunday are on the lookout for a videographer and a photographer who were present at the wedding reception where the killing took place. Some of the hotel staff told the investigation team  that the photographer and videographer fled the spot as soon as the two groups launced attacks.

It is said that they had taken the cameras with them while running away. Police believe the two could not have covered the incident as they had fled before Lambu Nataraj, Somashekhar and Balasubramani were hacked to death.

An eerie silence prevailed in the houses of the victims. A few neighbours told Deccan Herald that the victims’ parents and relatives had made several attempts to wean them away from indulging in violence and illegal activities, but in vain.