Mandya: A 27-year-old man was hacked to death in full public view at Koudle village in Maddur taluk yesterday. Santosh Kumar, the victim, had identified himself with the JD(S) recently, the Koppa Police said.

The five-member assailant gang that came in a Tata Indica car attacked Santosh Kumar with sharp-edged weapons, killing him on the spot. Some local youths, who were with Santosh Kumar, ran to safety. But the assailants did not target them, the Police said.

Santosh Kumar had joined JD(S) along with former Nagamangala MLA Suresh Gowda who had left the Congress party. Santosh, who hailed from D. Malligere, was riding his bike from Koudle village towards Jogikoppalu when the attack took place. Preliminary investigation indicated that the victim was involved in some criminal activities that resulted in enmity.

According to Mandya SP G. Radhika, there were several cases registered against him at various Police Stations in Bengaluru and a Court in Bengaluru had issued a warrant against him.

His name also figured in the credit and debit card fraud cases and he used to take his gang to Bengaluru to commit various crimes and return to Mandya. Often he used to fight with his gang members over some issues, she said.

The Koppa Police have registered a case. A team has been formed to nab the assailants.

The Police suspect a financial or a business dispute to be the reason for the attack. While the Police ruled out a political angle to the murder, Suresh Gowda said that it was a political murder.

“The present Nagamangala MLA is targeting JD(S) workers and there is no anticipation of justice from the present Congress Government,” he alleged. He said that he would discuss the issue with his party leaders and protests will be held forcing the Police to arrest the culprits soon.

Partially burnt body found

A partially burnt body of a 30-year-old man was found near Kallu Devanahalli in Nagamangala taluk of the district yesterday. The assailants might have murdered the victim at a different location and attempted to burn the body near Kallu Devanahalli, the Police said. A villager, who  noticed the body, alerted the Police. Nagamangala Rural Police have registered a case and are investigating.