Multiple murder case in Karwar

Karwar: The Uttara Kannada police have solved a multiple murder case with the arrest of accused Ganapathi Bhat, who `allegedly' killed four members of Manjunath Hegde's family along with a priest at Harlamane village in Siddapur taluk on February 5 night.
The accused Ganapati Bhat alias Ganesh Bhat from Mareguddi village in Sirsi taluk, is the nephew of Manjunath, sources said.He was arrested at Palace Guttahalli in Bangalore on Friday. Bhat, who was staying in Malleswaram, was also wanted in other crimes. He is also said to have incurred loss in business.
According to the police, Bhat visited Mareguddi in January-end before coming to his uncle Hegde's house in Harlamane on February 4. Although he left the house for Bangalore on February 4, he returned and conspired to kill the family to rob valuables.
Bhat believed his uncle might have inherited a large amount of jewellery from his ancestors. Hegde's nature of not allowing any one, including his 14 children, into his room made Bhat's belief stronger.
On February 5 night, Bhat `allegedly' used a sharp weapon to smash the heads of the five persons. He later broke open the wooden cupboard and decamped with jewellery.
The investigating team, which had been trailing the murderer for nearly 10 days, found six banana peels probably had for dinner on February 5. The give-away clue revealed the presence of sixth person at the house. After questioning the close relatives of the victims, the police zeroed in on Bhat. His mobile phone records too indicated his presence in the vicinity on the fatal night. The police have brought Bhat to Siddapur.
District minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has appreciated the police for cracking the case.