Hospet TP president killed at RD parade

BELLARY: Hospet Taluk Panchayat President and taluk Congress leader M. Suryanarayana was shot dead at the Republic Day celebrations in Hospet, near here, on Sunday morning.
The assailant, identified as Chandre Gowda and a one-time trusted lieutenant of the slain leader, swished a chopper at Suryanarayana which the latter escaped by cowering. Then he fired five bullets at Suryanarayana pointblank, three of which pierced through the chest, felling him unconscious.
A grievously injured Suryanarayana was rushed to Hospet Hospital and later to Bellary''s Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Suryanarayana, chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations at Hospet College grounds and sitting alongside taluk judges and commissioners of various corporations, was attacked when the National Anthem was being sung.
Chandre Gowda and his accomplice have been taken into custody.
Sources said Chandre Gowda, a resident of Ramasagar village, was angry with Suryanarayana for snubbing and ignoring him both in the Congress and during polls to the Hospet Urban Development Authority. Another theory doing rounds is that Suryanarayana favoured Gowda''s opponents in a property deal.
Soon as the news of Suryanarayana''s murder spread, tension gripped Hospet. "The situation is under control," said Bellary SP Sharat Chandra.
Chandra, DC Jawaid Akhtar, Minister of State for Cooperation M. Diwakar Babu, MLC K.C. Kondaiah and MP Kolur Basavana Gowda rushed to the hospital where the body was kept.
Hampi Utsav cancelled: The three-day Hampi Utsav, slated to start on Sunday, has been cancelled following the murder.
Karnataka Rural Development Minister M.Y. Ghorpade said all Hampi Utsav programmes have been scrapped.
Ghorpade made the decision at an emergency meeting of top officers of the district that he convened around noon.
Hasareekarana programme in Halkundi village, to be inaugurated by Ghorpade during the day, was also cancelled.