Bengaluru: Murder accused shot at for pelting stones to avoid arrest

Bengaluru: A murder accused was shot at and arrested by the Konanakunte police on Saturday morning after he began pelting stones at the police to evade arrest.

The accused has been identified as Rajendra alias ‘Benki’ Raj alias Psycho Raj (28), a resident of C.K. Palya on Bannerghatta Main Road. He and his associated had bludgeoned to death an ATM security guard in Kumarswamy Layout police station limits on March 24.

Rajendra was absconding after the killing of 65-year-old security guard Lingappa, a resident of Goudanapalya, who was guarding a Karnataka Bank ATM in Kadirenahalli on Uttarahalli Main Road.

Lingappa was killed because the culprits wanted money to buy ganja. The police are on the lookout for other attackers.

On Saturday morning around 4 am, Kumarswamy Layout police received credible information that Rajendra was near Double Road in Konankunte police station limits.

A police team formed to nab Rajendra led by K.S. Layout police inspector Hajareesh Killedar rushed to the spot to arrest him. Rajendra who apparently was looking for a target spotted the police and in a bid to escape, he began pelting stones at them.

To neutralise him, Hajareesh shot at his leg. Rajendra was rushed to a hospital for treatment and later arrested.

During the investigation it was found that Rajendra was addicted to ganja and had no money to buy it. While searching for a potential target to rob, he and his associates found Lingappa asleep near an ATM. He crushed his head with a boulder and took cash from his pocket and fled.

Police said Rajendra was earlier involved in two murders and assaulted a person with lethal weapons to get money to buy ganja.

The police are further investigating the case and making efforts to nab other accused.