Date:03/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/03/stories/2006040321510400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Gang hacks real estate agent to death

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A realtor was hacked to death and another was seriously injured in an attack by a gang of assailants in Hebbal Police Station limits on Saturday.

The police gave the name of the dead as Santosh (23), resident of Lingarajapuram, and the injured as Manjunath (25), resident of Hebbal Kempapura. Santosh was the son of late Chikkanna, who was the gram panchayat sarpanch, the police said. Santosh and Manjunath were in to real estate and finance business, the police added.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 11.45 p.m. when the two were on a motorcycle near Hebbal Kempapura Junction. The armed men travelling in a van hit the motorcycle and attacked the two with lethal weapons. Santosh died on the spot. Manjunath is in hospital, the police said.

Meanwhile, some persons said to be sympathisers of Santosh ransacked the house of an influential person in Kempapura following the murder. There was tension in the locality on Sunday morning.

The Hebbal Police have registered a case. Investigation is on. They have seized some weapons.

Beaten to death

A 44-year-old farmer was beaten to death allegedly by his brothers-in-law in Kodihalli Police Station limits in Bangalore Rural district on Saturday. The police gave the name of the farmer as Puttaswamy, a resident of Bommasandra.