Madikeri: A Police Gunman, who had climbed a 50 ft. tall mango tree for grafting purpose, slipped and fell from the tree resulting in his death this morning.

The deceased is Lokesh Poojari (35), who had served as the Gunman for former Madikeri MLA M.P. Appachu Ranjan for many years.

Today morning, Lokesh is said to have climbed a 50 ft. tall mango tree for grafting (Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together.) at Kanbail village in Suntikoppa Police limits, when he slipped and fell rendering him unconscious. He was immediately rushed to Madikeri District Hospital, where the doctors reportedly pronounced him ‘brought dead.’ He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Appachu Ranjan said that Lokesh was brilliant and he was in the forefront of the rescue operation during the 2018 landslides at Kodagu besides stating that Lokesh was honest and had good rapport with the public.

Post-mortem was being conducted at the District Hospital, when we went to the press.                   Suntikoppa Police have registered a case.