BENGALURU: An insolent attender shot at two Class 12 girls, killing one and severely injuring the second, at a college near Whitefield on Tuesday.
The incident took place at Pragathi School and PU College in Kadugodi. Gautami (17), the only daughter of a financier from Tumakuru district, died on the spot. Her friend Shirisha (17) has undergone surgery, and is in ICU.
Both girls hail from Pavagada, and had been studying at the school for two years. Gautami had remained in the hostel room complaining of a stomach ache on the day she was shot.
Mahesh (38), the alleged killer, fled after the incident, and was arrested at his sister’s house in B Narayanapura near KR Puram, 16 hours after the incident.
The shooting took place just after 10 pm, police said. Mahesh barged into the girls’ hostel on the third floor and first shot Gautami, who was asleep, and then attacked Shirisha.
A native of Agumbe in Shivamogga district, Mahesh used to lay down rules for students and was allegedly intimidating them, saying they should abide by them. Some students, including Gautami, had ticked him off, telling him to mind his business and not do the warden’s job. An enraged Mahesh barged into Gautami’s room on Tuesday and fired two rounds from a country-made pistol.
While the first bullet hit her chin, the second went through her head, killing her on the spot. He then went towards Shirisha, coming out of an adjacent room, and tried to shoot her. He missed but shot again, hitting her mouth.
While escaping, he found some students streaming out after their CET classes, and tried to aim at another student. When the students raised alarm, he fled.
Told about the commotion, warden Kalyani rushed to the spot and found Gautami lying in a pool of blood.
Shirisha was crying for help. The school authorities rushed the two girls to a nearby hospital, where Gautami was declared brought dead.
Kalyani called the Kadugodi police, who arrived and found a live cartridge at the spot.
Mahesh had entered the hostel at 10.03 pm, as revealed by CCTV footage. He had earlier attempted to sneak into the same room a month ago. The girls had complained, and he had been let off with a warning. About 70 students stay in the hostel for CET and IIT coaching. Some had left after their exams, while others had gone for their classes.
Kadugodi police said they were investigating the security lapse. Though the school has CCTV cameras, only one security guard was present at the time of the incident.
Parents of Shirisha, now at Manipal Hospital on Old Airport Road, have sought a detailed investigation.
Shirisha underwent cosmetic surgery on Wednesday as the bullet had pierced her upper lip and injured her jaw.
Talking to Express, Dr K Ramesh, Shirisha’s uncle, said she had spoken to the family on Tuesday night. The college authorities had called and said she had fallen from a staircase and injured herself.
“They later said they had told that story as they did not want to shock the parents. Shirisha is stable now,” he said.
Daughter of B R Srinath, a civil engineer, and B R Jayanthi, a gynaecologist at Ramakrsihna Nursing Home in Tumakuru, Shirisha is now under observation.
Dr Sudarshan Ballal, medical director, said the surgery on her had been successful. “Our team operated on her and she is under observation for any internal injury,” he told Express.
Meanwhile, the medical superintendent of Vydehi Medical College Hospital said Gautami had been brought in at 2.30 am, but was dead by then.
Police Commissioner M N Reddi and Home Minister K J George visited the hospital on Wednesday. The hospital conducted an autopsy and has sent the report to the police.
Shirisha’s surgery, involving cosmetic and ENT specialists, took about two hours and a half. The first round of treatment addressed her acute injuries. A second surgery might be necessary to treat the damage to her teeth and jaw.
Shirisha is awake and recognises her family, but unable to speak as she was sedated heavily before the surgery.
“She might also be in shock. We will see about that after she recovers from her physical injuries,” Ballal added.
Shirisha was taken to Manipal Hospital by around 4 am on Wednesday.
How Did He Get a Gun?
City Police Commissioner M N Reddi said Mahesh had bought the country-made pistol a few days ago, but was not revealing where and why he had bought it.
“When we arrested him, we also found six live bullets,” he told reporters. Gautami, who completed her SSLC in Davangere, is the daughter of Ramesh, a financier who lives at Pavagada with his wife.
Who is Mahesh?
Mahesh, a native of Kendalabayalu village in Shivamogga district, used to run errands and ring the bell at the college. He was allowed to the third floor and the terrace of the hostel only to switch on the pump and maintain the water tank. Taking advantage of this, he had begun ordering students around.
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