Mangaluru: In a major breakthrough, the Urwa police have arrested a long-absconding member of the notorious Dandupalya gang in connection with a sensational double murder case registered in 1997. The accused, who had been evading arrest for nearly three decades by living under multiple false identities, was traced to Andhra Pradesh and taken into custody, marking a significant development in one of the most shocking crime cases of the late 1990s.
The arrested accused has been identified as Chikka Hanuma alias Chikka Hanumanthappa alias K Krishnappa alias Krishna (55), son of Venkatappa, a native of Dandupalya village in Hoskote taluk of Bengaluru district. He had been residing under a false identity at Vijayanagar Colony in B K Palli, Madanapalle, located in Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh, to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
Arrest after nearly three decades on the run
Chikka Hanuma, listed as accused number six in the case, was arrested by a special team of the Urwa police at Madanapalle after sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering. He was produced before the jurisdictional court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
The arrest relates to Urwa Police Station Crime No. 113/1997, registered under Sections 460 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night), 396 (dacoity with murder) and 400 (punishment for belonging to a gang of dacoits) of the Indian Penal Code. Police officials stated that the accused was a close associate of the dreaded Dandupalya gang, which was notorious for its violent crimes across Karnataka and neighbouring states during the 1990s.
Grisly double murder that shocked the city
According to police records, the crime dates back to the midnight of October 11, 1997. Members of the Dandupalya gang forcibly entered a house named Anwar Mahal, situated near Urwa Marigudi Cross, with the intention of committing robbery.
During the incident, the gang members — Dodda Hanuma alias Hanuma, Venkatesh alias Chandra, Munikrishna alias Krishna, Nallathimma alias Thimma, Krishna alias Dandupalya Krishna alias Nagaraj, Chikka Hanuma, Krishnadu alias Krishna and Venkatesh alias Ramesh — brutally murdered two persons present in the house. The victims were Louis D’Mello (80) and Ranjith Vegas (19).
After committing the murders, the accused decamped with gold ornaments and other valuables. The brutal nature of the crime had triggered widespread shock and outrage, drawing intense public attention at the time.
Trial, convictions and absconding accused
Following a detailed investigation, the police filed a charge sheet before the competent court. The case was tried by the 34th Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge (Special Court) functioning at the Central Prison premises in Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru, under Sessions Case No. 728/2010.
At the conclusion of the trial, five of the accused, including Dodda Hanuma alias Hanuma, were convicted by the court. However, Chikka Hanuma had remained absconding and never appeared before the court. In view of his prolonged absence, the JMFC II Court issued a Long Pending Case (LPC) warrant against him in 2010.
Changed identity to evade law
Police said the accused had successfully evaded arrest by frequently changing his name and relocating outside the state. By assuming identities such as Chikka Hanumanthappa, K Krishnappa and Krishna, he managed to stay away from the police radar for almost 28 years.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused is allegedly involved in around 13 murder and robbery cases across Karnataka. Police officials stated that verification of his criminal antecedents is ongoing and further details are expected to emerge during interrogation.
Police team commended
The arrest was carried out by a special team led by Urwa Police Inspector Shyam Sundar H M, assisted by Police Sub-Inspectors Gurappa Kanti and L Manjula, Assistant Sub-Inspector Vinay Kumar, and staff members Lalithalakshmi, Anil, Pramod, Atmananda and Harish.
The Police Commissioner has appreciated the commendable efforts of the officers and staff involved in tracking down the absconding accused after nearly three decades. The team has been recommended to the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP), Karnataka, for suitable rewards.
Conclusion
The arrest of Chikka Hanuma underscores the persistence of the police in pursuing long-pending cases and sends a strong message that offenders cannot escape the law indefinitely. The development brings renewed focus on delivering justice in cases involving organised crime and offers a sense of closure to a crime that had left a deep scar on public memory.