No robbery angle, just drunken highway shooting; weapon, pellets sent for forensic tests: SP  

Mandya: The Mandya Police have cracked the case of the early morning shooting near a petrol bunk close to Amaravathi Hotel on the outskirts of Mandya along the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway.  

Investigations have revealed that all seven accused are between 23 and 27 years of age, with some pursuing degrees in law and engineering. The incident, which occurred in the wee hours of Thursday, had raised serious concerns over public safety and reckless use of firearms on a busy                                    national highway. 

Addressing a press conference at her office yesterday, Mandya Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr. V.J. Shobha Rani clarified that the incident was not a robbery attempt. “The accused became enraged after the goods vehicle driver did not give way. They overtook the vehicle, blocked its path, abused the driver and fired a shot at the vehicle. There was no other motive behind the act,” she said. 

The arrested have been identified as H.V. Rohan Gowda, 23, a law student and son of businessman Vishal Raghu of Ashok Nagar in Mandya; Shashank, 25, a BE student and son of Thammanna of Marigowda Layout; Afan, 25, son of Kaleel of Dwarakanagar; Mohd. Umar, son of Mohammed Jaffer of Kuvempunagar; Nithin, 27, son of Joseph of Vidyanagar; Mohammed Abubakar, 25, son of Habibulla of Gandhinagar and Sachin, 26, a delivery head and son of Joseph of Vidyanagar.

Forensic analysis 

SP said the seized weapon and pellets have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine whether it is an air pistol or a firearm. 

According to the investigation, the accused had attended Afan’s birthday celebration at a resort and were returning to Mandya when the incident occurred. Police suspect they were under the influence of alcohol at the time. 

Victim Shankar, a resident of Gokulam in Mysuru and a driver with ‘Super Speed Service Courier’, was transporting pharmaceutical consignments from Bengaluru to Mysuru in a goods vehicle at 4.50 am on July 2. 

Police said the accused, travelling in a Toyota Fortuner, honked while attempting to enter the service road from the highway. When the truck driver did not give way, they allegedly overtook the vehicle, intercepted it near Amaravathi Hotel, abused the driver and fired a shot into the goods vehicle. During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that they had fired “for fun” while intoxicated. 

Fortunately, no one was injured. Though shaken, Shankar continued driving to his office in Mysuru and did not report the matter. Police later traced him through their sources, following which he lodged a complaint at Mandya Rural Police Station. 

Using the registration number of the Toyota Fortuner, investigators tracked down the accused and arrested them. Police also seized the vehicle, an air pistol, two carbon dioxide cartridges and pellets. 

Investigators are now trying to ascertain where the weapon was purchased and whether it was acquired legally.  

Highway patrol intensified: SP 

Following the shoot-out incident, the Mandya Police have stepped up security along the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway. The Mandya Police have launched “area domination” operations, with highway patrol vehicles deployed between Nidaghatta and Naguvanahalli from 9 pm to midnight every day, the SP said. 

Suspicious vehicles and individuals will be stopped and checked immediately. Police are also taking action against people consuming alcohol near the highway under the Excise Act. Surveillance has been intensified along the highway, service roads and underpasses to prevent similar incidents in future, SP Rani she added.