Gloomy picture prevailed due to naxal attack

Seethanadi, Karnataka, May 16 (UNI) A scene of gloom was descended on the house of Bhoja Shetty, a teacher by profession, who was shot dead in last night along with his cousin Suresh Shetty, in this sleepy village situated in the thick forest of Udupi district in Karnataka.

The visiting newspersons from Udupi district had seen blood stains were seen scattered at the main iron gate and on the floors of the foreyard of the deceased house, who was shot at by the Maoist group members from AK 47 assault riffle.

The extremist Maoist members also left behind some hand bills printed in the name of CPI (Maoist) State Committee.

Briefing the visiting press persons, Mr. Balakrishna Shetty, a relative and friend of deceased Bhoja Shetty said that both Mr.

Bhoja Shetty (56) and Suresh Shetty (35) were coming back to the former's house at around 2015 hours.

He said that the deceased while approaching their house saw some boulders blocked their way and Suresh Shetty the pillion rider got down from the vehicle and tried to remove the obstacles. Meantime the Naxal members hiding behind the bushes opened fire indiscriminately and fled away from the scene. While Bhojashetty was killed on the spot his accomplice Suresh Shetty was succumbed to bullet injuries on his way to hospital.

As soon as the sounds of bullets were heard, Mr. Bhoja Shetty's son who was inside the house came out with gun only to see that his father was lying in the pool of blood and the assailants have escaped in the darkness in the thick reserve forest.

According to Balakrishna Shetty, though Mr. Bhoja Shetty had developed enmity with the naxalites after he courageously took them head-on in 2005 against an attempt on his life, Suresh Shetty was totally innocent and nothing to do with naxalites.

Mr. Sunil Kumar, former BJP MLA from the Karkala constituency and MLC Captain Ganesh Karnik visited both houses yesterday while, the Union Minister for Labour Oscar Fernandes visited the houses today.

Mr. Balakrishna Shetty said that Bhoja Shetty (56) who was teacher at Someshwar Higher Elementary School was due for retirement in next three year time has survived wife, two daughters and a son while Mr Suresh Shetty was an agriculturist was very humble and innocent has wife, a daughter and a son, he added.

Meanwhile, the joint combing operation by the Anti Naxalite Force (ANF) and the police has been intensified in the thick forest area to trace the culprits.

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