BANGALORE: A Janata Dal (Secular) activist was stabbed to death by a group of five men near his house in Anepalya, near Military Police Corps campus, off Hosur Road, on Monday night.
The murder sparked off a spate of allegations that it was carried out at the behest of rival party leaders. Police, however, ruled out the allegations.
According to police, Lokesh, 35, was returning to his house on 12th Main Road, Aneplaya, with friend Nandakumar. Five men surrounded the duo, stabbed them and fled from the spot.
Both men were rushed to St Philomena’s Hospital but Lokesh did not survive. Sources said Lokesh was a relative of Vausdeva Murthy, a JD(S) candidate from Shantinagar assembly constituency in the coming elections.
On Tuesday, Lokesh’s relatives and other JD(S) workers alleged the involvement of their political opponents in the murder. Police officers were quick to rubbish the allegations, claiming evidence did not suggest political vendetta.
“For two weeks now there have been attacks on our men by our political rivals. We also filed a complaint with the Ashok Nagar police station but there was no action,” said Shivakumar, Shantalanagar corporator and brother of Vasudeva Murthy.
Deputy commissioner of police (Central) BR Ravikanthe Gowda said police have identified the attackers. “I want to make it clear that there is no political motive behind this murder and it was personal rivalry,” he said.
Sources said based on the statement given by Nandakumar and other evidence, the suspects have been identified as Palani, Dinesh, Dominic, Gopi and Sathya. Sources also said Nandakumar told police that he heard someone shouting “Dinesh, stab him”. Nandakumar is undergoing treatment at Mallya Hospital.
On Tuesday, before the funeral, a large contingent of police force, including a platoon of Central Reserve Police Force was deployed in Anepalya to avoid any clashes.
Share your views
