BENGALURU: City police recently arrested three men on charges of murdering their friend, a 32-year-old physiotherapist, last month and trying to burn the body.
K Sridhar of Yelahanka was found dead near Ganigarahalli in Soladevanahalli, northwest Bengaluru, on February 7. Earlier, Sridhar's younger brother K Prasad had filed a police complaint stating his brother had gone missing on February 4.
Now, police have arrested B Veeranjaneyulu alias Puli, 38, S Govardhan, 23, both residents of Kondappa Layout, Yelahanka, and their associate N Buddappa alias Bhaskar of Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. All the accused are self-employed.
Preliminary probe revealed the prime accused, Veeranjaneyulu, and Sridhar had fought in public last year. "They had fought outside a bar over monetary issues and Veeranjaneyulu lost his cool when Sridhar abused him. Sridhar, who was physically stronger, soundly thrashed Veeranjaneyulu in public," an investigating officer said. Since then, enmity grew between the duo. Buddappa, a close friend of Veeranjaneyulu, told him he was ready to assault Sridhar.
"Buddappa and Govardhan took Sridhar to a bar on the evening of February 4. After consuming alcohol, they took Sridhar to Ganigaranahalli saying they knew a house owner who wanted to rent out his premises. Sridhar had been looking for a rented house. By then, Veeranjaneyulu reached the spot and the trio slit Sridhar's throat," the cop said.