Underworld don Ravi Poojari seems to have become unstoppable as he continues to get local goons to fire at business offices in the city to create a scare among builders. The Bengaluru police tried to instil confidence amongst realtors and builders through a Saturday night operation in which CCB sleuths shot down Ramachandra alias Chandu, one of the men who shot at Mantri firm on Saturday. The henchmen were intercepted at Horamavu gate during a special nakabandi on Saturday. The CCB police stopped two men who were coming on a motorcycle near Horamavu.
“The officials had taken clues from the security guards at the Mantri office. The guards told us that the pillion rider was wearing a black shirt and they also identified the motorcycle used. The message was sent across police stations and a team of CCB sleuths intercepted a similar motorcycle at Horamavu. Chandu opened fire when officials went to question him. CCB inspector Ashokan shot three rounds of fire at Chandu. He died on his way to the hospital,’’ a senior police officer said.
City police commissioner Shankar M. Bidari said the guards at the Mantri Developers office didn’t have any weapons and were helpless when the accused opened fire. The police recovered two country-made revolvers from Chandu. The police said Chandu’s accomplice, who managed to escape, also sustained a bullet injury on the hand. According to the police, the two revolvers recovered from the spot were the ones used to fire at the Mantri office. Envelopes containing Ravi Poojari’s visiting cards were also recovered from Chandu, a police officer said.
“The security guards of the Mantri were taken to the hospital and they identified the gunman. Poojari is involved in 13 extortion cases in the city. The city police has arrested 22 associates of Poojari in the last three years. Stern action will be taken against such anti-social elements,’’ the commissioner said. Poojari had made calls to the Mantri office and no senior person from the company had spoken to him despite several threatening calls.