Court convicts five in murder of ‘underworld operative’ in Mangaluru prison

The second Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jagadeesh V.N., on Monday convicted five persons in connection with the murder of ‘underworld operative’ Madoor Yusuf in Mangaluru District Prison on November 2, 2015.

The judge convicted Litesh Shetty, alias Litthu; Shobharaj, alias Shobhi; Yuvaraj; Pradeep; and Umesh Kombar, alias Umesh Kumbara, for offences punishable under Sections 144 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 302 (murder) read with Section 149 (member of unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 25 (1B) (b) of the Arms Act. They were acquitted of offences punishable under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC.

The judge acquitted notorious accused Sharan Poojary, alias Rohidas, alias Sharan Akashabhavan; Mahesh Kumar, alias Mahesh; Kamalaksha Poojary; Sathish Acharya; and Latheesh, alias Chitthu, for lack of evidence. The case against underworld operative Vicky Shetty, alias Balakrishna Shetty, who is also named as an accused in the case, has been kept pending as he is still at large.

The judge will hear arguments on the sentence on Tuesday and then pass orders on the punishment for the convicted persons. The prosecution was represented by Mohan Kumar. The then Assistant Commissioner of Police Tilak Chandra had filed the chargesheet.

On November 2, 2015, Madoor Yusuf was attacked while he was strolling near the prison’s high-security enclosure, where he was lodged. The incident raised questions over security inside the prison, leading to a lot of changes in the district prison’s administration.