Rowdy stabs four in 30 min in Bengaluru; manhunt on

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police have launched a manhunt for a rowdy who stabbed and grievously injured four people in Indiranagar without any provocation on the night of February 8.

The sudden burst of violence from the suspect — identified as Kadamba, a history-sheeter with six cases against him and known for picking up petty quarrels — took place in and around the busy 100 Feet Road between 9.30 pm and 10 pm. 

The suspect, said to be in his 20s, later attacked a motorist in the early hours of Sunday and fled with his scooter. Police have traced him to Hoskote.

Kadamba stabbed Jashwanth P (19), Mahesh Sitapati S (23), Deepak Kumar Varma (24) and Tammaiah (44) — all four residents of Indiranagar — in their neck and jaw region with a sharp object, likely a pocket knife.

Jashwanth was stabbed for taking a wrong turn and Sitapati for not adequately responding to a question; two others, who were pani puri vendors, were allegedly attacked for non-availability of food and issues over bill payment.

Kadamba also attacked Adil (24), a motorist, with his knife near 80 Feet Road at around 2.30 am on Sunday but couldn't stab him; instead, he fled with his Suzuki Access scooter after initially asking for a drop to KR Puram Railway Station.

Senior police officers said that five FIRs were registered by the Indiranagar police and refuted claims that Kadamba was a serial killer.

“We have set up four teams to trace and secure the suspect,” Ramesh Banoth, Joint Commissioner of Police (East) told DH. 

D Devaraj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), said that the suspect escaped to Hoskote on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

“The Hoysala patrolmen from Indiranagar spotted the suspect on the stolen scooter and began chasing him after he matched the description. Towards KR Puram, the suspect disappeared in the dead of the night,” Devraj told the media.

“The suspect was traced the next day to Hoskote where he approached a medical store and sought money for food. The CCTV feed has matched the suspect's description and the stolen vehicle,” he added.

A resident of a slum in Old Binnamangala, Kadamba has six cases against him: one relating to house break-in and theft, two over assault and three relating to robbery. A rowdy sheet was opened on him at the Indira Nagar police station in May 2024 and police have in the past initiated preventive actions against him.

“Recently, on good behaviour, a Rs 1 lakh bond procedure was initiated so that he wouldn't create issues. From questioning the suspect's parents and sisters, it was learnt that the suspect had fought at home over not being given money for drinking before engaging in such erratic behaviour,” Devaraj said.

A senior police officer said the "suspect has a history of mobile robbery and after consumption of alcohol, has a habit of picking up petty quarrels with neighbours”.

The Indiranagar police have opened the investigation under BNS Section 109 (attempt to murder).

Highlights - On a stabbing spree
Suspect stabs four residents of Indiranagar in their neck and jaw region with a sharp object, likely a pocket knife, between 9.30 and 10 pm
One was stabbed for taking a wrong turn, another for not responding to a question; two others, pani puri vendors, were attacked for non-availability of food 
A motorist was also attacked at around 2.30 am on Sunday and the suspect fled with his scooter