Bangalore cops gun down rowdy in midnight encounter

A 23-year-old criminal, who was wanted by the police in several cases, was shot dead during an encounter near the Yeshwanthpur railway station, in the wee hours of Sunday.

Two policemen also suffered injuries during the shootout.
Police said Pachchi alias Prashanth, a resident of Mathikere, was gunned down by a team from the Yeshwanthpur police station after allegedly attacking them and trying to escape. Police said the incident happened around 1 am on Sunday.

Deputy commissioner of police (north), HS Revanna, said a Doordarshan employee Balaji Singh, a resident of Mathikere, was attacked by Prashanth and his gang on the night of September 17. The police registered an attempt to murder case and began a hunt to nab the gang. Two days later they arrested his associate, Abhilash.

Investigation revealed that Prashanth fled from the city after the incident. On Saturday, police received information that Prashanth and his gang were in Dabaspet, near Tumkur. However, before the police could nab them, they fled from the lodge, where they were staying. Later, when the team returned to Yeshwanthpur, they got credible information that Prashanth was at the railway ground.

A police team led by Yeshwanthpur police inspector, MK Ganapathi, sub-inspector BN Lohith and four constables tried to arrest him there, but he retaliated by attacking them. Despite warning to surrender, he assaulted SI Lohith. Prashant also attacked inspector Ganapathi, after he opened fire in the air, when he tried to nab him. Left with no choice, Ganapathi shot at him, killing him on the spot. Police said that Prashant received two bullet injuries, one on his leg and the other on his forehead.

The body was shifted to MS Ramaiah hospital and handed over to his relatives after a post-mortem examination. The injured cops are being treated at the MS Ramaiah hospital.

City police commissioner, Shankar M Bidari said that six criminal cases were registered against Prashanth in the Yeshwanthpur police station. Several of his victims did not file cases, as he had threatened them with dire consequences.

“We suspect that he committed more than 100 offences,” Bidari said.

The police had earlier in the night gunned down an associate of Ravi Poojary.