2 of 11 men who killed ex-corporator held

Two members of  an 11-member gang that carried out a murderous  attack on a former BBMP corporator have been arrested. Four others have been apprehended for harbouring  a suspected assailant.  

Velu (23), of Hegganahalli, and Abhishek alias Kulla Abhi (25), of Magadi taluk, Ramanagaram district, were said to be part of the gang that chased down and fatally hacked M B Govinde Gowda just 200 metres from his house on December 9. Gowda was JD(S)  corporator from Hegganahalli between 2010  and  2015.  

The Rajagopalanagar police are looking out for nine others involved in the murder.  

Separately, they arrested  Rahul (19), Sandeep (25), both from Hegganahalli, Lakshman (25), of Sunkadakatte, and Devaraj (29), of Taverekere, for harbouring Abhishek. The four apparently misled  the police when they were on the hunt for others, police sources said.  

Almost all those in  the murder are said to be relatives of  Chikkathimmegowda, a political worker who  once worked for Govinde Gowda before switching over to the BJP in 2015.  Chikkathimmegowda had ensured the defeat of Govinde Gowda's wife in the BBMP polls. Govinde Gowda got him killed in revenge, police said.