Dandupalya gang member, absconding for 29 years, arrested from Andhra Pradesh

Mangaluru: Police have arrested Chikka Hanuma alias Chikka Hanumanthappa, a member of the notorious Dandupalya gang, from Andhra Pradesh. The accused absconded for nearly 29 years in connection with a double murder case registered at Urwa police station in 1997. The arrest was made in Madanapalle of Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh. The accused, identified as Chikka Hanuma alias Chikka Hanumanthappa alias K Krishnappa alias Krishna, 55, a native of Dandupalya village in Hoskote taluk of Bengaluru district, was produced in court, which remanded him in judicial custody, city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H said on Thursday. Chikka Hanuma was the sixth accused in the double murder case. On the night of Oct 11, 1997, Dandupalya gang members allegedly broke into a house named ‘Anwar Mahal' near Urwa Marigudi Cross. The gang members, Doddahanuma alias Hanuma, Venkatesh alias Chandra, Munikrishna alias Krishna, Nallathimma alias Thimma, Krishna alias Dandupalya Krishna alias Nagaraj, Chikka Hanuma, Krishnadu alias Krishna, and Venkatesh alias Ramesh, allegedly murdered Louiza D'Mello, 80, and Ranjith Vegas, 19, and fled with gold ornaments.Following the investigation, a chargesheet was filed before the court. However, Chikka Hanuma managed to evade arrest and fled to Andhra Pradesh without appearing before the court. In 2010, the JMFC II Court, Mangaluru, issued a long-pending warrant (LPC) against him, commissioner Reddy said. Police said the accused was reportedly involved in about 13 murder and robbery cases across Karnataka, and further details were still being collected. The police commissioner praised the officers and staff involved in Chikka Hanuma's arrest and recommended their names for suitable rewards.