Cong leader held in murder case

District police have arrested Congress leader D C Sannaswamy, said to be the prime suspect in the murder of Ajay Satpal of Sakleshpur taluk, from the new bus stand here on Saturday evening.

Ajay Satpal was murdered over a dispute on sand extraction and transportation at Nidugere village in Sakleshpur taluk, Hassan district, on July 18. Sannaswamy, and his accomplices, had gone missing after the murder.

Addressing a press meet here on Sunday, SP Rahul Kumar said, a gang had brutally murdered Ajay Satpal with lethal weapons on July 18. Cases were filed against 15 persons, including Sannaswamy. Twelve people have already been arrested in connection with the murder while three are still absconding.

The SP explained that Ramachandra of Channarayapatna was into sand mining. The deceased Ajay and Sannaswamy were working under him. There was misunderstanding between the duo. On the fateful day, the issue turned worse, ending in the murder of Ajay, he added.

Though Sannaswamy was not present on the spot of crime, he had directed the whole episode through cellphone, SP said. Additional SP V J Shobharani, Channarayapatna SI Vinod and others were present.