Police nab notorious rowdy

The Jayanagar police apprehended a notorious rowdy-sheeter, Arasaiah, and four of his associates and reportedly recov- ered vehicles, valuables and money from them.

Arasaiah,35, is allegedly involved in more than 30 heinous crimes including more than six murders, double murders, attempts to murder, abductions, extortions and dacoities. For the last few months, he had been giving the police the slip by not attending the court proceedings.

According to police, Arasaiah came out of Central Prisons, Parappana Agrahara, few months ago. He was imprisoned on the charge of murdering Naveen and Girish in August 2010. He hacked them to death over an old rivalry. However, he managed to get bail and came out, police added.

He went into hiding soon after his release from the prison and resumed his activities. He reorganised his associates from different parts of the City and engaged in criminal activities. He allegedly master-minded some of the recent murders of rowdies, police said.

Fearing police action, he shifted his base to a village in Turuvekere taluk. He found the village safe as he had managed to gain confidence of the villagers. The police went in disguise to the village on a few occasions to arrest him, but returned unsuccessful.

The police received credible information on Saturday night that Arasaiah would be in Bangalore along with his four associates to allegedly  eliminate his rival gang leader. The police quickly swung into action by forming different teams. A team led by Jayanagar inspector S K Umesh intercepted a vehicle with Arasaiah and his associates travelling in it around 5 am.

Sources in the police said they anticipated firing by Arasaiah and his team and thought his arrest would end in an encounter. However, according to another source, the police arrested him when he was walking on the road with his associates at a village in Turuvekere on Saturday night.

Rowdy stabbed to death

Two men stabbed a rowdy to death in Byatarayanapura over a petty issue on Saturday night. The deceased is Rajesh, 20, a resident of Ambedkarnagar. Rajesh picked up a quarrel with Adilan at the slum. He threatened Adilan at knifepoint, when he was talking to his friends Santosh and Mani.

Soon, Mani and Santosh snatched the knife from Rajesh, stabbed him several times and fled. Rajesh was rushed to Victoria Hospital where he died. Mani and Santosh are absconding, police said.