JDS youth leader and associate murdered

Bangalore, Jan 19 (PTI) Close on the heels of the murderof a JDS corporator, a party youth leader along with hisdriver was murdered by a seven-member gang at Koona Madiwalavillage in Bangalore rural district today, police said.

The deceased were identified as Devaraju (40) and hisdriver Manjunath (38) and police said personal enmity could bethe motive behind the murders.

Police said Devaraju had parked his vehicle on theroadside and gone to settle a dispute along with his driverwhen they were attacked with lethal weapons by the gang thatlater crushed their heads with boulders.

Devaraju was the main accused in the murder ofChikkadevaraju of the same village, 10 years ago and had beenarrested and later released on bail, police said.

Subsequently, fearing for his life, he had relocated toBangalore, they said.

The murder of Devaraju follows the murder of JD-Scorporator Haji Mohammad Ali on Jan 16 when the former rowdysheeter with 36 cases pending against him including attempt tomurder and kidnapping was shot dead by unidentified personshere due to suspected personal enmity.