Image for representational purposes. | Photo credit: Getty Images
The Sampigehalli police opened fire and arrested the key accused in the recent murder of rowdy Pawan Kumar in Bengaluru on Saturday morning.
The accused, identified as Ranjith, was shot in the leg during an encounter near Mettaganahalli under Bagalur police station limits. The intervention was carried out by a team of police officers based on credible information about his whereabouts.
According to the police, Ranjith was hiding in a rented room in the area. When the police tried to arrest him, he allegedly attacked them with a dagger. The police opened fire in self-defence, injuring him in the leg, they claimed. He was immediately subdued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be stable.
A 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 deadly weapons, took place in front of Pawan’s mother and sent shockwaves throughout the locality.
Pawan was a troublemaker under the jurisdiction of DJ Halli police station. He was also accused in the 2023 murder case of another rowdy Kapil and was released from jail in May 2025.
Police suspect that an old rivalry may have led to the murder. After the incident, special teams were formed to track down and arrest the accused. After Ranjith’s arrest, investigators believe that crucial clues in the case are likely to emerge.
Based on the information provided by him, the police arrested the remaining accused in the murder case.
Published – 28 Feb 2026 18:41 IST
