Plot to kill former MLA foiled, 5 arrested

BANGALORE: A plot to eliminate former BJP MLA L R Shivarame Gowda was foiled by CCB sleuths with the arrest of five associates of underworld don Ravi Pujari. It is said that they had planned to kill Gowda in connection with a land deal. The accused have been identified as Harish alias Cocaine Harish (39) of Nagarabhavi, Radhakrishna Shenoy (32), Sunil Bangera (32) of Haleyangadi in Mangalore, Keshava Pradeep Bhat alias K S Bhat (42) of Konanakunte and Ramesha (32) of Hongasandra.The police said that they were arrested when they were waiting to attack and murder an industrialist near Kengeri Satellite Town Road. Two cars, lethal weapons, five mobile phones and some documents related to the disputed land have been recovered from them. However, a senior police officer said that the accused had planned to kill Shivarame Gowda. “Pujari had called Gowda and asked him to settle a land dispute in favour of a person suggested by him and Gowda had not paid heed to that.”