BENGALURU: The president of Bengaluru's Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) was shot at in broad daylight on Friday morning, suspected to be a fallout of a gang war or political rivalry. The incident took place at Kogilu Cross near Yelahanka at 11:30 am when two bike-borne men fired eight rounds at the car in which K Srinivasmurthy alias Kadabagere Srinivas (51) and his friend Sridhar Murthy were travelling.
Srinivas, who was seated next to the driver, suffered three bullet injuries, and was later admitted to a private hospital. While Murthy escaped unhurt, the driver Rajamouli sustained minor injuries. The shooting took place when Srinivas and Murthy were heading towards Bagalur in a Honda City after attending a Raitha Sante (farmers' fair) in Yelahanka. When the car stopped at a signal, the unidentified gunmen opened fire and fled the scene
Police said that Srinivas, who hails from Kadabagere village in Nelamangala, faced several criminal cases and is the elder brother of Poison Rama, a notorious rowdy. Traffic was thrown out of gear for a while on the busy Ballari Road as well as towards Doddaballapur Road. Senior police officials, including City Commissioner Praveen Sood, visited the spot and inspected the crime scene.
Forensic Science Lab (FSL) experts also examined the spot while 10 special teams have been formed to crack the case. "We are waiting for the forensic report to ascertain the weapon used by the gunmen. We can't come to a conclusion whether it was a country pistol or revolver," said a senior police officer.
Soon after the incident, police put checkpoints across the city to find the suspected vehicle. The officials are also verifying CCTV footage from over 20 CCTV cameras installed in the surrounding areas to identify the attackers.
Meanwhile, Columbia Asia hospital authorities in a press release said the bullets on Srinivas' body were removed and he was stable.