Supari killer, four associates nabbed

Bangalore, Oct 22 (UNI) In a major breakthrough, police nabbed a five member gang, including a notorious supari killer, involved in 27 murders and an equal number of highway robbery cases last night.

Talking to mediapersons here, Commissioner of Police Neelam Achutha Rao said Shyam, alias Killer Sham, alias rod Shyam, who had escaped from Kolar prison in August, was convicted to life imprisonment in four of the 27 murder cases. He had escaped from jail while the guard was attending a telephone call.

A special team was formed to nab him. It was discovered that he had taken the help of one Kaviraj, an associate of notorious killer Ravi Pujari, who was at large, while escaping from the jail. The duo accompanied by the latter's gang were planning to attack a Real Estate agent in the City. The Police, who collected information about the movement of the gang, swung into action and arrested Shyam, Kaviraj and three of their associates.

Mr Rao said Shyam assumed nick names because of the murders he had committed and 'Rod Shyam' because he used a rod to rob two wheeler riders.

He said Shyam and one of his associates Ravi were involved in a sensational murder case of Ms Suparna of ANZ Grindleys Bank in 1998. It had created a sensation in the state.

Shyam and Kaviraj, after the former escaped from the jail, went to Yercaud in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and hired a Qualis to Mettur.

After travelling some distance they drugged the driver, threw him out and escaped with the vehicle. They had planned to commit crimes in Krishnagiri, Salem, Mettur and Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu.

Kaviraj was one of the accused in the shoot-out of Shabnam Developers last year. He and his wife were also involved in a case of kidnapping for ransom.

UNI