Ex-panchayat president murder: Eighth accused arrested
Udupi police have arrested the eighth suspect, Suraj Kumar, in connection with the murder of former panchayat president David D’Souza. The investigation suggests the murder was a contract killing stemming from a dispute over roadwork contracts.
Why it matters
The case underscores issues of local political violence and the use of contract killers in regional disputes.
The Udupi police have arrested Suraj Kumar, 31, of Bihar, in connection with the murder of former president of Mudarnagadi Gram Panchayat David D’Souza in Udupi district on August 7.
Till now, the police have arrested eight persons.
According to a release, a team of police personnel from the Kundapura Police Station secured Kumar at Haldwani in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.
The police arrested Kumar and seized his mobile phone. Kumar was produced before jurisdictional magistrate in Udupi on Thursday.
Investigation has revealed that Kumar was among the persons engaged by Kishore Ram Poojary, who was arrested for giving contract for the murder, to contact the three assailants of D’souza.
D’Souza was attacked when he was about to get on his jeep parked in front of his office, ‘Prince Enterprises’, near St. Francis Xavier Church, in Pilar.
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