Residents sleepless as goon Bettanagere Shankara walks free
Residents of North Bengaluru might have to be more vigilant now that Bettanagere Shankara (in pic) is out of jail. On Saturday, the notorious rowdy who was 34 cases — three murders, nine attempts to murder, five extortions, two kidnappings, and other 15 cases for crimes such as assault, rioting and preparing to commit murder -- against him walked out of Madikeri Jail after the High Court rejected a police plea to detain him under the Goonda Act.
Shankara has been in jail for nearly five years since he were taken into custody on July 22, 2010, for allegedly unleashing a reign of terror, along with his cousin and rival, Seena, in north Bengaluru areas for a decade. Seena was killed in an encounter in 2013.
The cousins shot to infamy with the murder ofBalekaimandi Basavaiah in public.
According to the police, the court on questioned Shank-ara’s detention saying there was no way he could be active in criminal activities as he had spent the last six years in jail.
The last case filed against Shankara was in 2013. The HC said since the trial for the case was already on in a court, there was no need to detain him. However, the cops claimed that Shankara continued to operate from jail through his associates.
They alleged that he made several ransom calls and threatened realtors, businessmen and landlords.
The police urged the court to extend his custody “to maintain peace and instill a sense of security among the people”.
The police also said they had received intelligence inputs that Shankara might try to disrupt the gram panchayat elections scheduled for May. They said they feared he might target some political leaders to extort money from them.
Possibilities of threatening the public to vote for a particular candidate and possible attacks were also taken into consideration before deciding to detain Shankara, the police told the court.
Madanayakanahalli police had learnt that Shankara wanted to become the ‘king’ of Nelamangala and surrounding areas.
Related Story: North Bengaluru’s terror, Bettanagere Shankara, will be back on the streets
Shankara has been in jail for nearly five years since he were taken into custody on July 22, 2010, for allegedly unleashing a reign of terror, along with his cousin and rival, Seena, in north Bengaluru areas for a decade. Seena was killed in an encounter in 2013.
The cousins shot to infamy with the murder of
The rowdy-sheeter in Madanayak-anahalli and Nelamangala police stations was granted bail in March. However, within 24 hours of his release, the Bangalore Rural Police detained him under the Goonda Act.
According to the police, the court on questioned Shank-ara’s detention saying there was no way he could be active in criminal activities as he had spent the last six years in jail.
The last case filed against Shankara was in 2013. The HC said since the trial for the case was already on in a court, there was no need to detain him. However, the cops claimed that Shankara continued to operate from jail through his associates.
They alleged that he made several ransom calls and threatened realtors, businessmen and landlords.
The police urged the court to extend his custody “to maintain peace and instill a sense of security among the people”.
The police also said they had received intelligence inputs that Shankara might try to disrupt the gram panchayat elections scheduled for May. They said they feared he might target some political leaders to extort money from them.
Possibilities of threatening the public to vote for a particular candidate and possible attacks were also taken into consideration before deciding to detain Shankara, the police told the court.
Madanayakanahalli police had learnt that Shankara wanted to become the ‘king’ of Nelamangala and surrounding areas.
Related Story: North Bengaluru’s terror, Bettanagere Shankara, will be back on the streets
