A 40-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary was hacked to death by a gang in Anekal on Wednesday night on the outskirts of southeast Bengaluru.

The deceased, Harish, was recently appointed as vice president of the BJP’s Yuva Morcha for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of Anekal taluk, the police said.

The incident occurred around 11 pm near Heelalige gate in Anekal when Harish was returning home on his motorcycle after partying with his friends. Around five men with lethal weapons waylaid him, threw chilli powder on his face and hacked him to death. According to police, the assailants are related to Harish.

The police suspect the motive behind the murder was a fishing contract Harish procured at Heelalige lake. “Heelalige lake was filled to the brim after the recent rains, making fishing a profitable prospect.

Three brothers identified as Sandeep, Rajesh and Santhosh, who are Harish’s distant relatives, also eyed the fishing contract,” said a senior police officer.

Meanwhile, Harish who had recently become the vice president of the SC/ST Yuva Morcha wing, claimed that he had already bagged the contract and did not allow the three brothers and others to fish in the lake.

Last week, Harish had picked a quarrel with the three brothers who were fishing at the lake. Harish went to one of the brothers Rajesh’s house and assaulted him and his parents for not heeding his warnings. On Wednesday night, the three, along with two other associates identified as Kishore and Karthik, accosted Harish near Heelalige gate and hacked him to death, the police said. 

All suspects are at large. Suryanagar police have formed teams to nab them. “At this stage, the murder does not look political in nature,” said Amit Singh, superintendent of police, Bengaluru Rural. “We are probing the murder from all angles,” he added.