Private bus driver killed during drunken brawl

Madikeri: A private bus driver was shot dead allegedly by a villager at Aravatoklu village near here late on Wednesday night.
The deceased is Erappa alias Raja, 40. According to the complaint lodged by his brother Ningappa, Cheriyamane Girish shot Erappa using a gun from close range. Erappa died on the spot, with blood oozing from his chest and head.
According to circle inspector Kharim Ravtar, the incident occurred over a drunken brawl. Accused Girish would shoot fishes in a nearby stream regularly. On Wednesday, Erappa and his bus owner Pujarira Appaji alias Madappa met Girish and struck a casual conversation near the stream. A remark made by Erappa enraged Girish, and he allegedly opened fire. After he fled the scene, Appaji locked himself inside his house and did not inform the incident to anyone. A passerby noticed the body and informed Erappa's family about the same.
Erappa is survived by two children and his wife Shanthi, who is a village panchayat member at Cheyyandane.
On Thursday, private bus operators struck work by parking their vehicles at Madikeri bus stand, and demanded that police arrest the accused immediately.