A suspect in the Kotekar Co-operative Bank dacoity case sustained a gunshot wound after police opened fire when he allegedly attempted to escape during an evidence recovery operation in Ullal.
The accused, Murugandi Thevar, was in police custody until February 3 as part of an ongoing investigation. During interrogation, he revealed details about the crime’s planning and execution, implicating an associate, Shashi Thevar.
According to police, Murugandi disclosed that the trio had met near Ajjanadka in November 2024 to strategize the robbery. Allegedly, Shashi provided a firearm and insider details about the bank’s security vulnerabilities. He later concealed the weapon near the same location.
Based on this lead, a police team, led by the Ullal inspector, took Murugandi to the site for evidence collection. At the scene, he allegedly attacked Constable Manjunath, attempting to strangle him with his restraint chain before trying to flee.
Despite a warning shot, Murugandi continued his escape bid, prompting the police to fire a second round, striking him below the knee to immobilize him. Both Murugandi and the injured constable were admitted to Yenepoya Hospital, with police confirming that neither sustained life-threatening injuries.
Notably, another suspect, Kannan Mani, was also shot during a previous escape attempt. A separate case will be registered regarding Murugandi’s bid to flee and the police response.
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