Karnataka - Hassan   

Slain CMC member laid to rest

Staff Correspondent

Police say enmity was the reason for the murder of H.R. Nagaraj

HASSAN: The body of H.R. Nagaraj, a member of Hassan City Municipal Council, who was murdered by a gang of 15 members on Saturday, was consigned to flames here on Sunday amid tight security. Minister for Information B. Shivaram attended the funeral.

Earlier, the body was taken in a procession. Congress leaders, including the MLC S.M. Anand, were present.

Nagaraj (56) was murdered in front of a club on the outskirts of the city around 9.30 p.m. on Saturday. The gang, according to the police, attacked him with machetes and clubs. Nagaraj died on the spot. Anni and Murali, Nagaraj's accomplices, were also injured, when they tried to rescue him.

The police said that the accused fled the scene.

Ballu Gopal, a friend of Nagaraj, took the body to a private hospital in Hassan city along with the injured. After the news of Nagaraj's murder spread, his followers assembled near the private hospital and started throwing stones. To control the mob, the police resorted to a mild lathicharge.

The district Congress leaders, including, the president of the Hassan City Municipal Council, G.T. Kumar, and a member of the council, Shyamasundar, rushed to the spot.

According to the police, enmity between Mr. Nagaraj and Gyralli Thammiah was the reason for the murder. Prashant, son of Mr. Nagaraj, has lodged a complaint. The police have formed two teams to arrest the culprits. The police have provided security at the house of Gyralli Thammiah.

Mr. Nagaraj represented Pension Mohalla ward in municipal council for four terms in a row. He had been arrested in connection with the Dyapalapura incident. Mr. Nagaraj staged a dharna in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner recently and threatened to consume poison if what he termed police harassment continued.

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Slain CMC member laid to rest

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