Mangaluru : The Vittal police have arrested 11 suspects,in connection to Karopady Grama Panchayat vice president Jaleel Karopady murder case, said IGP (western range) Harishekharan.

Addressing a press meet at the SP office he said that the arrested are Rajesh Naik, Narasimha Shetty, a resident of Mani, Prajwal, a resident of Belandoor, Pushparaj and Sachin both from Savanoor, Roshan, Sathish Rai of Kanyaya, Keshava of Veerakamba, Prashanth of Krishnapura, Vachan of Kanyaya and Puneeth, a resident of Savanoor.

Police recovered 11 bicycles, two machetes, and an Omni car from the accused.

IG said, the murder was pre planned, “On December 2016, three persons, namely Nawaf, Sajab and Khaleel was disturbed Rajesh Naik and his friends at Mittanadka in Karopadi. Rajesh questioned their act, meanwhile Nawaf, Sajab, Khaleel, Sulaiman Khalandar assaulted wooden sticks.

A complaint was also filed at Vittal police station.

Rajesh, who was insulted and assaulted in public by the accused, suspected that the slain Karopadi gram panchayat vice-president Jaleel was supporting the accused. For this reason, Rajesh harboured a grudge against Jaleel,” the IGP said.

The prime accused are Rajesh Naik, a resident of Kanyaya runs a shamiyana shop with his friend Narasimha Shetty. While accused interacting with police, it was revealed that they are aides of underworld element Vicky Shetty, the IGP said.

Accused Rajesh Naik and Sathish Rai are rowdy-sheeters, with four cases each registered in Vittal police station. Narasimha Shetty is an accused in two cases.

In an other sources says Jaleel was reportedly murdered by the gang as a revenge for supporting a muslim boy in his inter-religious love affair at Karopady Gramapanchayat office near Vitla.