MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada district police have nabbed seven persons in connection with the murder of Abdul Jaleel Karopadi , 36, vice-president of gram panchayat in Bantwal Taluk. Vicky Shetty , fugitive gangster, police top brass, maintain, is the man behind the murder plan.Political as well as personal rivalry led to the murder of Abdul Jaleel in broad daylight on April 20. P Harishekaran , IGP, Western Range and Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, superintendent of police, DK who jointly addressed the press said the arrested people are Rajesh Nayak, Narasimha Shetty, Prajwal, Pushparaj, Sachin, Roshan, Satish Rai. Police also have seized two bikes, lethal weapons and a car.Police added that the main accused Rajesh Nayak, resident of Karopadi who runs a pendal shop and Narasimha Shetty, were arrested near Udupi. "During interrogation they spilled the beans about others and also revealed that fugitive Vicky Shetty is the mastermind behind the murder as he was not happy with Jaleel becoming vice-president and was batting for nephew Dinesh Shetty for the post," said Harishekaran. Dinesh Shetty is son of Balakrisha Shetty, who is brother of fugitive gangster.Police added that in 2015, Dinesh Shetty was hoping for the post of vice-president but it was given to Abdul Jaleel, who earlier enjoyed post of panchayat president. Irked by this, Dinesh had complained about this to the fugitive.Later, Vicky Shetty contacted Rajesh Nayak, a rowdy-sheeter to hatch a plan to kill Jaleel. On his instruction, Rajesh brought several others on board. Vicky Shetty made several VoIP calls to Rajesh to execute the plan. Police added that several persons wanted in this case, are absconding and will be arrested soon.SP said Vicky Shetty and his accomplices also did not like Jaleel growing as a popular leader of that region. The murderers had waited for almost a month to kill Jaleel, who was away for by-election campaign in Nanjangud and Gundlupet.Police to invoke K-COCA against fugitiveWith strong witness in hand, Dakshina Kannada Police are mulling to invoke Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (K-COCA), 2000 against Vicky Shetty. Borase said Vicky, a notorious criminal, known for his inclination towards right-wing associations, has been involved in dozens of criminal cases including murder and criminal conspiracy. "According to our knowledge we know he is operating from foreign soil and will be invoking K-COCA to bring him to India," Borase added.

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