‘Supari-Killing’ Angle To Murders In BJP Leader’s Family In Karnataka; Son Among 8 Arrested

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Gadag: Police claimed to have cracked the mystery behind the murder of four of family of a BJP leader in Karnataka’s Gadag within three days of the gruesome incident with the arrest of eight persons, including mastermind Vinayak Bakale, the step-brother of one of the victims.

The accused “supari” killers have been identified as Fairoz Qazi (29), Zeeshan Qazi (24), Sahil Qazi (19), Sohail Qazi (19), Sultan Sheikh (23), Mahesh Solanke (21), and Wahid Bepari (21), all from Miraj in Maharashtra.

Police caught four accused from Miraj and others from Gadag late on Monday, The Tribune reported.

According to police sources, Vinayak gave a contract of Rs 65 lakh to assailants to murder his father BJP leader Prakash Bakale, mother Sunanda Bakale, who is the vice-president of Gadag-Betageri City Municipal Council (GBCMC), and brother Karthik Bakale. But the assailants murdered Karthik (27) and close relatives, Parashuram Hadimani (55), Lakshmi Hadimani (45) and Akanksha Hadimani (16). They were found murdered at Dasara Oni in Gadag on April 19.

The assailant entered the house through an AC vent and killed the four sleeping on the first floor. Prakash who was with Sunanda in another room that was locked from inside, heard the noise and called the police.

“It was a short-term plan. But as Prakash Bakale raised an alarm, the panicked assailants fled. Otherwise, he was also a target,” Inspector General Police Vikas Kumar told the media.

Police suspect property dispute as the reason behind the murder.

Prakash Bakale was the former vice president of GBCMC. Vinayak is Prakash’s son from first marriage.