Mangaluru : As many as four teams have been formed to trace those allegedly involved in the murder of 40-year-old Jalil Karopady, Vice-President of Karopady Gram Panchayat in Bantwal taluk that borders Kerala, on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, four persons hacked Jalil Karopady to death after throwing chilli powder on him in the gram panchayat office.

The assailants also threatened panchayat personnel.

Those who tried to catch them were reportedly hit with helmets.

Additional Superintendent of Police C.B. Vedamurthy said that the police teams were working with their counterparts in Kerala in tracing the assailants.

Following autopsy, the last rites of Jalil Karopady were performed on Friday, Mr. Vedamurthy said.

Democratic Youth Federation of India State president Muneer Katipalla said tough police officers should be posted in the areas bordering Karnataka and Kerala to crack down on gangs that are disturbing the peace in the region.

Pointing the involvement of one such gang in the murder of 40-year-old Jalil Karupady, Mr. Katipalla said these gangs were involved in illegal timber sale, theft of vehicles and distribution of counterfeit notes.

Apart from having their own rule in the region, the members of these gangs were interfering in day-to-day affairs of the local administration.