BIDAR, 6 APRIL

Bidar Police have cracked the murder case of a Gram Panchayat member and real estate businessman that occurred on Friday near the Chikkapete–Aliyabad Ring Road.

Two people who committed the murder and two others who assisted them were arrested within seven hours of the incident in the Shahapur, the police said on Saturday.

District Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti said, “John and Umesh from Navadgeri and Kumbarawada areas of Bidar, respectively, are the main accused. Their two accomplices are from Honnikeri. The mastermind behind the murder plot, a resident of Honnikeri, is absconding.”

Sources said that Vaijnath Dattatreya, 49, from Honnikeri had supported a family involved in a POCSO and SC/ST atrocity case filed last year at Janawad Police Station by facilitating legal help for them.

One of Vaijnath’s distant relatives allegedly plotted his murder to take revenge for assisting the family.

On Friday, while Vaijnath was having lunch at SK Dhaba, the assailants attacked him with machetes, resulting in his death.