BENGALURU: A former Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike councillor and JD(S) leader was hacked to death in broad daylight at a wedding hall near Hegganahalli in West Bengaluru on Saturday.
Govinde Gowda (59) was a former councillor of Hegganahalli ward. In November 2016, Gowda, his wife Varamahalakshmi (48) and seven others were arrested on charges of murdering Chikkathimmegowda, a BJP worker. Police suspect that Chikkathimmegowda’s brothers might have a role in Gowda’s death. Police sources said the brothers had called Gowda and offered to forge a compromise.
Gowda agreed, and met them at the Mathrushree marriage hall on Hegganahalli Main Road on Saturday evening. A group of seven people met Gowda, and after speaking to him for five minutes, attacked Gowda with machetes and knives. Gowda tried to escape, but could only stumble till the gate, where he fell, following which the attackers left. Gowda received severe injuries and was rushed to a hospital, but didn’t survive.
R Rangaswamy, owner of the marriage hall, said two groups of six to seven people each arrived at the hall around 4.30 pm and soon a fight ensued. Rangaswamy said CCTV cameras are fixed near the gate.
Chikkathimmegowda initially worked with Gowda, but later joined BJP. The candidate backed by him defeated Gowda’s wife Varamahalakshmi in the 2015 elections for the Hegganahalli ward, which created rivalry between them. This had reportedly angered the couple, and they allegedly paid seven ‘supari’ killers to murder Chikkathimmegowda.
Both Gowda and his wife were in judicial custody since the incident, and recently released on bail. Two teams have been formed to probe the murder.