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The Sampigehalli Police opened fire and arrested a key accused in the recent murder of rowdy-sheeter Pawan Kumar in Bengaluru on Saturday morning.
The accused, identified as Ranjith, was shot in the leg during an encounter near Mettaganahalli under the Bagalur Police Station limits. The operation was carried out by a team of police personnel based on credible information about his whereabouts.
According to police, Ranjith was hiding in a rented room in the area. When officers attempted to apprehend him, he allegedly attacked them with a dagger. In self-defence, the police opened fire, injuring him in the leg, they claimed. He was immediately overpowered and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be stable.
Brutal murder
On Wednesday, Pawan Kumar, 25, was hacked to death by a group of six assailants at Amarajyothi Layout in Thanisandra. The attack, carried out with machetes and other lethal weapons, took place in front of Pawan’s mother, sending shockwaves across the locality.
Pawan was a rowdy-sheeter under the jurisdiction of the D.J. Halli Police Station. He was also an accused in the 2023 murder case of another rowdy-sheeter, Kapil, and had been released from prison in May 2025.
The police suspect that an old rivalry may have led to the murder. Following the incident, special teams were formed to trace and arrest the accused. With Ranjith’s arrest, investigators believe crucial leads in the case are likely to emerge.
Based on information given by him, the police have arrested the remaining accused in the murder case.
Published – February 28, 2026 06:41 pm IST
