North Bengaluru’s terror, Bettanagere Shankara, will be back on the streets
A lightning bolt has hit realty businesses in north Bengaluru, especially in Nelamangala and Devanahalli areas. One of the most notorious gangsters Bengaluru has seen in recent years, Bettanagere Shankara , will be out of jail after five years.
Following a decade that saw the notorious Bettanagere cousins unleash a reign of terror in north Bengaluru, respite came after one of them was incarcerated and another killed in a police encounter.
Now, the High Court has granted bail to Shankara in the assault case on policemen for which he is currently in jail. Shankara also had cases of murder, extortion, attempt to murder among others against him. The alleged victims include eye-witnesses to murders said to be committed by him and also witnesses to the killing of the witnesses. It is a blood trail that would make the more-hyped gang wars of Rayalseema pale in comparison.
The growth of Shankara and other Bettanagere gangsters coincided with the real estate boom in Nelamangala, Devanahalli and other north Bengaluru areas in the last decade. The non-descript village of Bettanagere in Nelamangala has spawned over 80 history-sheeters with BettanagereSeena (Srinivasa) and Bettanagere Shankara (Shankara Gowda) being the most prominent in the rogues gallery. The cousins’ rivalry in real estate deals led to the murder of more than a dozen people, including that of politician 'BEML' Krishnappa. Seena was killed in a police encounter over two years ago.
Shankara’s return, after he managed to get bail in eight other cases and acquittal in two out of a total of 23 cases, is being feared as a precursor to more violence. Not surprisingly, the government advocate fought tooth and nail in the HC to ensure Shankara was denied bail.
The rivalry between Bettanagere Shankara and his cousin Bettanagere Seena (Srinivasa) is the stuff of underworld lore. The cousins shot to infamy with the murder of Balekaimandi Basavaiah in public. Basavaiah had defeated Hanumanthaiah in the taluk milk producers’ co-operative elections in 2004. Seena was defeated candidate Hanumanthaiah’s son and Shankara, his cousin. This marked their beginning as outlaws who would soon become two of the most dreaded criminals.
Within no time, politicians were wooing them. It took a while for the police to arrest Seena and Shankara as no eye-witnesses were ready to testify against them. Finally, Krishnamurthy, a farmer, and Devaraj, an advocate, came forward and the cousins were arrested.
What began as a partnership in crime turned into bitter rivalry within months. Local politician BEML Krishnappa is said to have helped Shankara get bail, but did nothing to help Seena, who was left embittered. Seena’s relative, Yadyal Devendra, was a political rival of Krishnappa and Seena believed his cousin Shankara was joining the enemy.
Rival gangs were formed and henchmen routinely attacked each other. The two cousins made many attempts on each other’s lives. The most atrocious were by Shankara, who allegedly tried? to kill Seena thrice. One of these attempts was allegedly inside the Mysuru prison, where an inmate was supplied with a country-made pistol to bump him off. Seena was fired at six times, but only one bullet hit his shoulder. It was a miraculous escape.
The wars between both gangs left a trail of blood. The first to be killed were the eye-witnesses to their first murder (Balekaimandi Basavaiah); advocate Devaraj and farmer Krishnamurthy. Devaraj was killed in front of his father Bylappa. Since Bylappa was an eye-witness, he too was murdered. Devaraj’s son-in-law, Gangondanahalli Ramamurthy, a local politician, was said to be trying to take revenge on the Bettanagere gangsters. But he too was murdered.
There was blood-letting in the family too. Yadyal Devendra, a relative of the cousins, was allegedly killed by Shankara’s gang because he was supporting Seena. In retaliation, Seena’s gang is said to have murdered realtor Lohith Gowda who was close to Shankara. The murders reached a zenith with the public hacking of BEML Krishnappa in 2012. A month later, in September, Seena was killed in a police encounter.
The extent of the carnage is more widespread if one includes the henchmen of the two cousins who died fighting each other. In the midst of all this, extortion of realtors and protection money from builders kept the blood enterprise growing.
Shankara’s imminent release has brought a growing sense of déjà vu among the real estate sector of north Bengaluru.
How he got bail
Shankara Gouda aka Bettanagere Shankara, 35, approached the HC for bail which came up for hearing before Justice Rathnakala. In this case, Shankara, along with four others, had been charged for assaulting police personnel when they raided the jail premises in civil dress. Shankara has been in jail for nearly five years since being taken into custody on July 22, 2010. Three of the accused have already been granted bail. Shankara’s advocate had argued that the chargesheet does not make out a case against him and he was no longer required by the investigating officer for further investigation.
The government advocate had argued against the bail, saying Shankara was a habitual offender and was involved in a total of 23 cases. He had assaulted the police personnel while they were on duty. If he was released on bail, he would abscond. Shankara was housed in the Nanjangudu sub-jail and had 11 cases in Bangalore Rural District and Mysuru alone. He had been acquitted in two cases and granted bail in eight cases.
The court, granting Shankara bail in the case, said, “Though the involvement of this petitioner in various cases is not impressive for his release, taking note of the nature of allegations and also the fact that the co-accused are already out on bail, I am of the considered opinion that there is no impediment to enlarge the petitioner on bail.” The court imposed several conditions for the bail.
It is hardly surprising that a film is being made in Kannada based on the cousins’ lives. The film is directed by Mohan Gowda, a relative of the Bettanagere cousins. The film stars Sumanth Shylendra and Akshay as the protagonists.
And then they were gone
1. Balekaymandi Basavaiah in 2004. Trigger: He won the election against Seena’s father
2. Advocate Devaraj and farmer Krishnamurthy in 2007. Trigger: They were eye-witnesses to the murder of Basavaiah
3. Bylappa in 2005. Trigger: He was an eye-witness to the murder of Devaraj
4. Gangondanahalli Ramamurthy. Trigger: The gram panchayat member was Devaraj’s son-in-law and a potential threat
5. Yadyal Devendra in 2009. Trigger: This relative was supporting Seena against Shankara
6. Lohith Gowda in 2009. Trigger: He was close to Shankara
7. BEML Krishnappa in 2012. Trigger: He had backed Shankara
Following a decade that saw the notorious Bettanagere cousins unleash a reign of terror in north Bengaluru, respite came after one of them was incarcerated and another killed in a police encounter.
Now, the High Court has granted bail to Shankara in the assault case on policemen for which he is currently in jail. Shankara also had cases of murder, extortion, attempt to murder among others against him. The alleged victims include eye-witnesses to murders said to be committed by him and also witnesses to the killing of the witnesses. It is a blood trail that would make the more-hyped gang wars of Rayalseema pale in comparison.
The growth of Shankara and other Bettanagere gangsters coincided with the real estate boom in Nelamangala, Devanahalli and other north Bengaluru areas in the last decade. The non-descript village of Bettanagere in Nelamangala has spawned over 80 history-sheeters with Bettanagere
Shankara’s return, after he managed to get bail in eight other cases and acquittal in two out of a total of 23 cases, is being feared as a precursor to more violence. Not surprisingly, the government advocate fought tooth and nail in the HC to ensure Shankara was denied bail.
The rivalry between Bettanagere Shankara and his cousin Bettanagere Seena (Srinivasa) is the stuff of underworld lore. The cousins shot to infamy with the murder of Balekaimandi Basavaiah in public. Basavaiah had defeated Hanumanthaiah in the taluk milk producers’ co-operative elections in 2004. Seena was defeated candidate Hanumanthaiah’s son and Shankara, his cousin. This marked their beginning as outlaws who would soon become two of the most dreaded criminals.
Within no time, politicians were wooing them. It took a while for the police to arrest Seena and Shankara as no eye-witnesses were ready to testify against them. Finally, Krishnamurthy, a farmer, and Devaraj, an advocate, came forward and the cousins were arrested.
What began as a partnership in crime turned into bitter rivalry within months. Local politician BEML Krishnappa is said to have helped Shankara get bail, but did nothing to help Seena, who was left embittered. Seena’s relative, Yadyal Devendra, was a political rival of Krishnappa and Seena believed his cousin Shankara was joining the enemy.
Rival gangs were formed and henchmen routinely attacked each other. The two cousins made many attempts on each other’s lives. The most atrocious were by Shankara, who allegedly tried? to kill Seena thrice. One of these attempts was allegedly inside the Mysuru prison, where an inmate was supplied with a country-made pistol to bump him off. Seena was fired at six times, but only one bullet hit his shoulder. It was a miraculous escape.
The wars between both gangs left a trail of blood. The first to be killed were the eye-witnesses to their first murder (Balekaimandi Basavaiah); advocate Devaraj and farmer Krishnamurthy. Devaraj was killed in front of his father Bylappa. Since Bylappa was an eye-witness, he too was murdered. Devaraj’s son-in-law, Gangondanahalli Ramamurthy, a local politician, was said to be trying to take revenge on the Bettanagere gangsters. But he too was murdered.
There was blood-letting in the family too. Yadyal Devendra, a relative of the cousins, was allegedly killed by Shankara’s gang because he was supporting Seena. In retaliation, Seena’s gang is said to have murdered realtor Lohith Gowda who was close to Shankara. The murders reached a zenith with the public hacking of BEML Krishnappa in 2012. A month later, in September, Seena was killed in a police encounter.
The extent of the carnage is more widespread if one includes the henchmen of the two cousins who died fighting each other. In the midst of all this, extortion of realtors and protection money from builders kept the blood enterprise growing.
Shankara’s imminent release has brought a growing sense of déjà vu among the real estate sector of north Bengaluru.
How he got bail
Shankara Gouda aka Bettanagere Shankara, 35, approached the HC for bail which came up for hearing before Justice Rathnakala. In this case, Shankara, along with four others, had been charged for assaulting police personnel when they raided the jail premises in civil dress. Shankara has been in jail for nearly five years since being taken into custody on July 22, 2010. Three of the accused have already been granted bail. Shankara’s advocate had argued that the chargesheet does not make out a case against him and he was no longer required by the investigating officer for further investigation.
The government advocate had argued against the bail, saying Shankara was a habitual offender and was involved in a total of 23 cases. He had assaulted the police personnel while they were on duty. If he was released on bail, he would abscond. Shankara was housed in the Nanjangudu sub-jail and had 11 cases in Bangalore Rural District and Mysuru alone. He had been acquitted in two cases and granted bail in eight cases.
The court, granting Shankara bail in the case, said, “Though the involvement of this petitioner in various cases is not impressive for his release, taking note of the nature of allegations and also the fact that the co-accused are already out on bail, I am of the considered opinion that there is no impediment to enlarge the petitioner on bail.” The court imposed several conditions for the bail.
It is hardly surprising that a film is being made in Kannada based on the cousins’ lives. The film is directed by Mohan Gowda, a relative of the Bettanagere cousins. The film stars Sumanth Shylendra and Akshay as the protagonists.
And then they were gone
1. Balekaymandi Basavaiah in 2004. Trigger: He won the election against Seena’s father
2. Advocate Devaraj and farmer Krishnamurthy in 2007. Trigger: They were eye-witnesses to the murder of Basavaiah
3. Bylappa in 2005. Trigger: He was an eye-witness to the murder of Devaraj
4. Gangondanahalli Ramamurthy. Trigger: The gram panchayat member was Devaraj’s son-in-law and a potential threat
5. Yadyal Devendra in 2009. Trigger: This relative was supporting Seena against Shankara
6. Lohith Gowda in 2009. Trigger: He was close to Shankara
7. BEML Krishnappa in 2012. Trigger: He had backed Shankara
