Rowdy sheeter hacked to death on busy JP Nagar main road

A 29-year-old rowdy loiterer was hacked to death by a group of unidentified assailants on the busy main road of JP Nagar on Saturday.

Police suspect this is a revenge killing linked to an old gang rivalry.

The deceased, identified as Raja alias Halmurka Raja, a resident of Pragathipuram, was attacked around 5.30 pm near Indira Gandhi (IG) Circle under the jurisdiction of JP Nagar police station.

According to the police, Raja had stopped for tea and was walking along the road when four to five armed assailants suddenly attacked him with machetes and other sharp weapons. He tried to flee but was chased and repeatedly hacked in full public view amid heavy traffic and the attackers fled.

The police rushed to the scene, took the body for autopsy and registered a case of murder.

CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinized and a search has been launched for the accused. The initial investigation revealed that the murder was the result of a long-standing gang rivalry.

Raja was a noisy sheet with several criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder and robbery. Police said he was named in the sensational Banashankari rowdy ‘Stand Kutti’ murder case that took place almost a decade ago.

He reportedly spent some time in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail along with another accused in the case before securing bail.

Although Raja claimed in recent years that he had reconciled with Kutti’s associates and stayed away from criminal activities, police are investigating whether Saturday’s killing was an act of revenge related to the case.

Police sources said that Raja was earlier associated with the notorious rowdy gangs of South Bengaluru and was allegedly working with several underworld operatives. He was also accused in other murder cases, including a double murder within Subramanyapura police limits.

Further investigation is underway.

Published – 27 Jun 2026 23:22 IST