Guard found dead inside charred bus in NWKRTC depot

 A security guard on duty was found charred to death inside a bus which caught fire at the depot of North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) here on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Lingaraja Palakshappa Belagutti (35) of Angaragatti village in Hirekerur taluk. He is survived by his wife, mother and two-year-old son. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

According to police, the incident came to light on Sunday morning when the staff reported for duty at the depot. It is suspected that the incident occurred between 3 am and 5 am.

However, Belagutti’s wife and mother have lodged a complaint with the Halageri police stating that he has been murdered.

His relatives alleged Lingaraja was the lone security guard for the sprawling depot and someone, who had sneaked into the depot to commit theft, killed him by confining him in the bus and setting the vehicle on fire.