Gopal Gowda, accomplice finally held
Had gone underground after man working on his land was brutally injured with weed-cutter
Gopal Gowda, 67, who had gone underground ever since he was booked along with his sister Damayanthi, Pushpalatha (wife) and Vasanth Gowda (driver of Damayanthi) was finally arrested on Saturday.
Sundara Malekudiya had complained to the Belthangady police after he was brutally assaulted with a weed-cutting machine allegedly by Gopala Gowda on July 26, when he working on the land given to him. Gowda claimed that he owned the land. Malekudiya was initially treated at Government Wenlock Hospital, and was then shifted to a private hospital in the city. A case was booked under sections 447, 504, 326, 506, 307 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code as well as the SC/ ST Act. Malekudiya has lost his fingers in the incident. Bantwal ASP Rahul Kumar S is the investigating officer in the case.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S Dhage said four teams were working on the case. A meeting was held on August 18 and it was decided that hourly monitoring would be taken up. At the same time, pressure was mounting on the police as several protests were being held demanding arrest of Gowda. Special police teams worked in different areas including Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Bengaluru and Sullia-Madikeri.
The accused will be produced before the magistrate. The police will move the court demanding police custody of the accused on Monday. The police are on the lookout for Damayanthi Gowda. The SP said Gowda was arrested mainly because of technical and conventional methods of investigations.
Gopal Gowda, 67, who had gone underground ever since he was booked along with his sister Damayanthi, Pushpalatha (wife) and Vasanth Gowda (driver of Damayanthi) was finally arrested on Saturday.
Sundara Malekudiya had complained to the Belthangady police after he was brutally assaulted with a weed-cutting machine allegedly by Gopala Gowda on July 26, when he working on the land given to him. Gowda claimed that he owned the land. Malekudiya was initially treated at Government Wenlock Hospital, and was then shifted to a private hospital in the city. A case was booked under sections 447, 504, 326, 506, 307 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code as well as the SC/ ST Act. Malekudiya has lost his fingers in the incident. Bantwal ASP Rahul Kumar S is the investigating officer in the case.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S Dhage said four teams were working on the case. A meeting was held on August 18 and it was decided that hourly monitoring would be taken up. At the same time, pressure was mounting on the police as several protests were being held demanding arrest of Gowda. Special police teams worked in different areas including Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Bengaluru and Sullia-Madikeri.
He was finally picked from a guesthouse in Puttaparthi. After initial inquiry, based on Gowda’s statement, the team left Bengaluru and came to Hassan from where Vasanth Gowda (driver of Damayanthi) was picked. He was working in a resort in Hassan. The team reached Belthangady police station at about 5am.
The accused will be produced before the magistrate. The police will move the court demanding police custody of the accused on Monday. The police are on the lookout for Damayanthi Gowda. The SP said Gowda was arrested mainly because of technical and conventional methods of investigations.
