Murder they wrote: Bangalore sees 23 killings in 22 days

Incidentally, Radha had divorced her husband to live with a French national. The culprits, after committing the murder escaped after robbing some valuables, Rs 40,000 in cash and her divorce papers. The police suspect that Radha’s relatives may have committed the crime as they were annoyed with her for having a relationship with a foreigner.

Two others murdered in the city were from Tamil Nadu and it is suspected that they were killed by their paramours. Akhileshwari (23), who was stabbed in Ulsoor on June 17was from Trichy, Tamil Nadu. She was stabbed while she was alone at her sister’s house and was speaking to a friend on the telephone. While, Tamarai Selvi (25) was strangulated in a lodge allegedly by her boy friend.

History sheeter Aruldas (40), was hacked to death by four youths, while another sheeter, Chinnappaiah (30) of Indiranagar was murdered last Friday.

Though the police have been stubbornly claiming that criminal activity in the city is under control, the recent spurt in crime has proved otherwise.

On June 4, when two fractions of Jedarahalli Krishna’s gang were preparing to take on each other near Mathikere, timely police intervention averted a major underworld fight.

On June 11, when associates of two major underworld groups clashed at Mohammedan block in Basavanagudi for supremacy of the area injuring two in the fight. A car was also burnt.

A police Inspector told The Indian Express that it was wrong to think that underworld activity had ceased in the city.

“It is a perennialproblem and at no point of time had the underground activities stopped. The underworld dons maintained a low profile for a year during which all of them were into real estate business. It is a matter of time before difference erupt between them. As the gang wars begin again, the city would witness more blood shed,” he said.

However, the incident that shook the public was the one which took place on Sampangiramnagar on June 5. Krishna, an attender in a private firm was murdered by three men near a bar on Mission Road. Krishna who was carrying Rs 1,200 refused to part with the money when three bar customers asked him to hand it over to them. Angered by his denial, one of them stabbed him and escaped with the money.