Tenant shoots at landlord; held

A plumber who came to plug a water leak got a bullet in his leg as a gun-wielding tenant  opened fire on his house owner but missed the target.

The overstaying tenant fired the bullet, thinking that the two had come to cut the water connection to force him out.  Police have arrested the tenant and seized his gun and the plumber is being treated in a hospital.

According to Amruthahalli police, the incident took place around 12.45 pm on Tuesday when BK Madhu took a plumber Sibin Mathew to his Bhuvaneshwari Nagar home, where his tenant Prakash Gowda is staying with his family.

Gowda saw the two approaching his house and thought they wanted to block the water supply.  He was already angry with Madhu as there was no power supply in the house for the past few days. He thought the house owner was behind it.

As soon as Madhu entered the house, Gowda picked up a quarrel with him. While Madhu was trying to explain the purpose of his visit, Gowda pulled out his licensed .32 revolver and  opened fire on him. But the bullet missed him and landed on the right leg of Mathew, the plumber.

The sound of gun shots brought in neighbours, who informed the police.

The police arrested Gowda and seized his gun.
Madhu said the rental agreement with Gowda had expired in December 2011 but Gowda had sought six months to vacate his house.

Madhu did not agree to this and told him many times to vacate the house. Lakshmi, Gowda’s wife, alleged that Madhu started harassing  them when they continued their stay in his house. He even disconnected the power supply a few days ago, she said. Gowda told police that hehad aimed the gun at Madhu’s leg as he did not want to kill him.

Madhu said: “I never harassed them. I went there today (Tuesday) with the plumber only to stop the water leakage.”