Bus owner-cum-conductor murder case: Absconding accused arrested

Udupi: An absconding accused in murder case of bus conductor cum owner Prashanth Poojary was arrested from near Venur Moorje Cross, Beltangady here on Tuesday, July 23.

The arrested Sachin Naika had gone absconding following the arrest of Rakshak,19, another accused in the case on July 14.

On July 11, two bike-borne youths hacked Prashanth Poojary to death outside his residence and fled the spot. Their bike was found abandoned some distance away from the crime spot.

Hiriyadka police registered a case in this regard and had sought help from Brahmavar police to trace Sachin’s whereabouts. Based on a tip-off that the accused was waiting for bus near Venur Moorje Cross, Beltangady on July 23 the police went there and arrested him.

It is learnt that the victim Prashanth Poojary had helped Rakshak secure a loan of Rs 50,000 from a cooperative society at Perdoor. Rakshak, however, failed to repay the loan which led to a fight between the two. An Angry Rakshak is then said to have plotted Poojary’s murder with his friend Sachin.

There are no other criminal cases against Sachin. The court has remanded him to four days police custody till July 27 for questioning.