Udupi Congress Leader David D’Souza Murder: 3 Held, One Shot in Chase
Investigation has pointed to a financial dispute between D’Souza and an out-of-state company in connection with work undertaken by him as the suspected motive
Udupi: Police shot an accused in the leg after he allegedly opened fire at a Sub Inspector while trying to escape during his arrest in connection with the murder of former Panchayat president and Congress leader David D’Souza.
The accused, identified as Raju, allegedly pushed Kaup Police Station PSI Tejaswi and fired at him with a pistol when police tried to apprehend him. Police then fired at his leg in self-defence and overpowered him, seizing the pistol allegedly in his possession.
On August 7 at around 3.45 pm, David D’Souza was returning to his vehicle after visiting the office at Mudrangadi when unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle and allegedly shot him in the head with a pistol, resulting in his death.
According to Udupi SP Hariram Shankar, while the investigation was in progress to trace the accused, police received credible information that three persons directly involved in the murder were travelling towards Bhatkal by bus.
Acting on the information, a police team intercepted the bus at Ottinene near Byndoor and began checking the passengers. The three accused allegedly got off the bus and attempted to flee. When police chased them, one of the accused, identified as Raju (42), a resident of Thana Pilwa in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly pushed Kaup Police Station PSI Tejaswi and fired at him with a pistol and tried to escape.
In retaliation and in self-defence, police fired at Raju's leg and overpowered him. Police also seized the pistol allegedly found in his possession. According to police, Raju is allegedly the person who fired at and killed David D'Souza.
The other two accused who allegedly fled the spot were subsequently traced and arrested. Ajay Rastogi alias Anmol (23) from Uttarakhand was apprehended in Kumta with the assistance of local police, while Ziaul Wazul Sheikh alias Deepak (38) from Bihar was arrested in Bhatkal with the assistance of Bhatkal police. Police have also seized the motorcycle allegedly used in the murder. It had been abandoned at Yermal.
The investigation has pointed to a financial dispute between D’Souza and an out-of-state company in connection with work undertaken by him as the suspected motive. Police suspect that a contract was given to kill him.
The investigation is continuing to identify those who allegedly facilitated the murder, provided financial assistance to the accused or sheltered them.
A separate case has been registered at Byndoor police station in connection with the alleged attempt to shoot the PSI and obstruction of a police officer in the discharge of his duty.
During the operation to apprehend the accused, Kaup Police Station PSI Tejaswi sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment at the Udupi District Hospital.
The accused Raju, who was injured after being shot in the leg by police, is also undergoing inpatient treatment at the Udupi District Hospital.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Udupi District Deputy Superintendent of Police Belliyappa.
The police teams included Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali G, DSB Police Inspector Harish, Byndoor Circle Inspector Shivakumar, Kundapur Circle Inspector Santosh Kaykini, Byndoor PSI Mahesh, Kaup PSI Tejaswi, Shirva PSI Manjunath Marabad, Kollur PSI Vinay, Karkala Rural PSI Prasanna MS, Padubidri PSI Shaktivellu and Anil, Shirva PSI Lohith Kumar and probationary PSI Shifaz, along with other police personnel.
Police teams from Bhatkal and Kumta, the District Crime Investigation Unit, fingerprint experts, the dog squad and the CDR Cell of Udupi also played a key role in the operation.