Police round up six more accused in Deepak Rao murder case

Six more accused in connection the Deepak Rao murder case, and four more accused in connection with Abdul Basheer murder were arrested, according to Mangaluru Police Commissioner T R Suresh.

It may be recalled that Hindu activist Deepak Rao  was hacked to death  at Katipalla, a town in Dakshina Kannada district near Mangaluru, on January 3. In retaliation, Abdul Basheer of Kottara Chowk, was murdered the same evening.  

Suresh said that those  who conspired and abetted the murder of Deepak Rao are Mohammed Rafiq, Irfan, Mohammed Anus, Mohammed Jahid, Hitayuthulla and Imran Nawaz. All six accused are now under arrest.  

Suresh added that along with the six persons who were arrested earlier, the total count now has gone up to 12 accused.  

The police said Mithun Kaladka,Tilakraj Shettly, Raju alias Rajesha were three people who are already in jail, in judicial custody, for various other crimes.

But the trio had plotted and carried out the murder of Abdul Basheer from inside the jail itself.    

The trio had planned to kill a person in Kottara Chowk. With the help of Anup who belongs to the area, they had carried out the murder of Abdul Basheer from jail.    

The police commissioner said that along with the three accused in jail, the police would get a body warrant for all four and carry out the questioning.  

He added that in the case of Deepak's murder it is not yet certain which of accused belongs to what organisation.  

But it is known that Mithun Kaldka has links with RSS leader Dr Prabhakar Bhat, he added.