Ex-Panchayat Chief Shot Dead in Karnataka's Udupi, Attack Captured on CCTV
Udupi (Karnataka): A former Gram Panchayat president and contractor was shot dead at point-blank range by an unidentified assailant in Udupi district on Friday, in an attack that was caught on CCTV cameras. The incident occurred in front of St. Francis Xavier Church in Pilar village, leaving the local community in shock.
According to preliminary information from police, two unidentified men arrived on a motorcycle and one of them fired at the victim, identified as D'Souza. The attacker reportedly shot him as he was opening the door of his car, before fleeing the spot with an accomplice.
CCTV footage that has emerged shows the attacker walking slowly towards D'Souza. As D'Souza opens his car door, the man approaches from behind, points the gun at his head, and fires. The victim sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital by locals, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way.
The exact motive behind the shooting is yet to be ascertained. Police teams visited the spot immediately after the incident and launched an investigation. The Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team and a dog squad were deployed to collect evidence from the location.
Senior police officials have said that efforts are on to identify the attackers and verify whether the killing was linked to any personal enmity, business rivalry, or other reasons. They have also appealed to eyewitnesses to come forward with information.
Local residents and relatives of the deceased expressed grief and demanded a thorough investigation. The area has seen no major incident of this nature in recent memory, and the brazen attack in a public place has raised concerns about law and order.
Police have registered a case and are analysing the footage, along with details from nearby establishments. Further updates are awaited as the investigation proceeds.
