Gangster’s accomplice killed in Bangalore gun battle

BANGALORE - A suspected accomplice of gangser Ravi Pujari was killed early Sunday in a gun battle, police said.

“The suspect, Chandru, 30, was first shot at by our patrol squad when he refused to stop the bike on which he was speeding away with his accomplice at Horamavu in southern suburb,” city joint police commissioner Alok Kumar told IANS.

Chandru, however, succumbed to his injuries when he was being rushed to a hospital while the pillion rider escaped from the spot.

Chandru and his aide were fleeing after firing at Mantri Developers’ office-cum-residential complex in the city late Saturday.

“They fired six rounds in the complex after the guards prevented them from entering the premises as the proprietor - Sushil Mantri - was not present,” Kumar said.

Though no one was injured in the shootout, the assailants left behind a paper with a Dubai phone number and a message to respond when ‘RP’ calls.

Pujari has been involved in extortion rackets in Mangalore and Bangalore through his henchmen, though he is currently abroad, police said.

Meanwhile, city police commissioner Shankar Bidari assured businessmen and real estate dealers of protection and crackdown on criminal elements indulging in extortion or kidnapping.

“We have received 14 similar complaints about Pujari and his gang during the last two years and are seeking Interpol’s assistance to nab him,” Bidari told reporters here.