Police jeep driver murderer gets life sentence

Kundapur District Additional and Sessions Court has imposed life imprisonment till his death on prime accused who was responsible for murdering police jeep driver and attempting to murder circle inspector in Kundapur four years ago.

The accused is Raghu. Raghu and Rajesh from Kottayam after robbing a petrol bunk on May 29, 2010 at Baindur had purchased knife at a store in Kundapur on May 30. They had conspired to carry our dacoity in Kundapur town on May 31.

The duo had attacked two cleaners who were sleeping in a private bus and decamped with mobile phones and cash. They had also made a futile attempt to break open a shop at Rama Mandira Road and had even assaulted Vicky and took away mobile phone.

  Then Kundapur ASI Subbanna and police personnel were attacked by the duo while they were on beat.  Later, at 4.30 am, the duo had come face to face with Circle Inspector Kantharaj. The duo in turn had assaulted Kantaraj and his men and had tried to snatch away the service revolver. When the jeep driver Sridhar tried to catch an accused, one of the accused stabbed him to death.

Later, with the help of local residents, the police arrested the duo who were hiding near Anagalli river. As the court had failed to grant bail to the duo, they were serving the jail.
In the backdrop of the murder of a police constable on duty, Ravikiran Murudeshwar had been appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case.  Local residents Girish, Sunil, Rajendra Kanchan and Surendra Kanchan who had helped in nabbing the accused duo, deposed before the court. The court was informed about the duo’s involvement in various crime cases in Karnataka and Kerala in the past.

Judge Rajashekara Venkata Gowda announced lifetime imprisonment to Raghu under IPC Section 302 for the murder and five years jail term to Rajesh under IPC Section 307 for murder attempt on the Circle Inspector and a fine of Rs 10,000. 

The court also rewarded two years additional jail term to the duo for disrupting the government servants from performing their duties.