Maddur cops nab 18 in rowdy-sheeter murder case

Mandya: Maddur police have arrested 18 people in connection with the murder of a rowdy-sheeter during a clash near Kolli Circle in Maddur town earlier this week.The victim is 20-year-old Yashwant alias ‘Kachi'. The incident reportedly stemmed from a minor dispute over a cigarette that escalated into a confrontation between two groups.According to police, the conflict began earlier that day when a group of youths was reportedly drinking in an open field. During the gathering, Yashwant allegedly assaulted a young man who refused to give him a cigarette, triggering tensions between the groups. Later that night, a meeting was arranged to resolve the issue through mediation. However, the discussion turned into a heated argument, and eventually a physical fight. During the clash, members of the rival group allegedly attacked Yashwant with clubs, leading to his death. In the retaliatory action that followed, two youths, identified as Darshan and Sachin, sustained serious injuries.Police registered two separate cases — one for the murder and another for attempted murder. In the murder case, 10 individuals (Darshan, Sachin, Dhanush, Siddaraju, Lohit, Mahesh, Sachin alias Katte, Lankesh, Sanjay Gowda and Viji) were arrested, police said.Seven others were arrested in the attempted murder case.SP Shobharani said Yashwant had three criminal cases against him. Police had earlier recommended his externment from the district, for which the process was going on.