BENGALURU: The Anekal unit vice-president of Bharatiya Janata Party SC, ST Yuva Morcha, Harish was hacked to death by a group of armed men on the city’s outskirts on Wednesday night.
Police said the incident took place around 9 pm in Surya City when Harish (40) was returning home after meeting his friends at a bar and restaurant.
The killers intercepted his motorcycle, threw chilli powder into his eyes and hacked him to death before fleeing the spot. Personal rivalry is suspected to be the reason behind Harish’s murder.
Harish had recently entered into a brawl with his relative Raju and his brothers over fishing in a tank in Anekal. He alleged that they were fishing in the pond illegally. Locals had to intervene to pacify them.
“Harish on Wednesday went to Raju’s house and beat up Raju and his parents over the issue. Later in the evening, he went to the restaurant to have a party with his friends. It may be a case of murder to avenge humiliation,” Surya City police said.
Bengaluru rural SP Amit Singh said, “Four teams headed by a Dy SP have been formed to crack the case. FIR has been registered against Raju, Sandeep, Karthik, Kishore and Santosh.” While the prime accused Raju has been arrested, the other four are still on the run.
Following the murder, Harish’s family members staged a protest alleging that it was politically motivated. Traffic came to a halt on Chandapura Road for a while.
BJP general secretary Shobha Karandlaje has, meanwhile, sought NIA probe into the murders of BJP workers in the State. She was speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi. Harish was elected to the post of morcha’s vice-president just a week back.