MANGALORE: The police on Tuesday said that one person wanted in many cases, including the recent Sukhananda Shetty murder case, Athik, alias Sudhir, alias Bullet Sudhir, was killed an exchange of fire with the police around 6.45 a.m. on Tuesday.

The incident took place near Baindoor in Udupi district.

Superintendent of Police B. Dayananda told pressperson here that Athik had been hiding in a house near Jog Falls in Shimoga district. A special police team headed by Inspectors Venkatesh Prasanna and Rajanna arrested him on Monday and were bringing him back to Mangalore. They halted at Bhatkal overnight.

Snatched gun and ran

When they were nearing Baindoor on Tuesday, Athik requested that the vehicle be stopped so that he could relieve himself.

But, according to Mr. Dayananda, when Athik got down from the van he snatched a service pistol from Sub-Inspector Giriyappa and ran into the bushes by the roadside. When the police team followed him he shot at them, Mr. Dayananda said.

The police fired 24 rounds, of which three hit the fugitive.

He was rushed to the district hospital in Udupi where he was declared dead.

Mr. Dayananda said Athik was wanted in three other cases, including the Nelyadi murder case in 1998, in which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001.

But while on parole he was caught by the police in 2003 in a dacoity case in Uppinangdy. But he escaped while being taken to jail in Mysore. From then he had been absconding.

Ten arrested so far

Mr. Dayananda said the police had arrested 10 persons in the Sukhananda Shetty murder case and were on the trail of the alleged kingpin, Mulky Rafiq, who is accused of planning the murder.

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