Puttur : Town police arrested four accused in connection with the murder case of Akshay Kallega, the head of Kallega tiger dance team.

Akshay Kallega (24) who led Puttur’s famed tiger dance team named Kallega Tigers was hacked to death by a group of assailants late night on November 6, Monday.

Akshay has been leading the tiger dance team since the past six years. The team had also participated in many competitions and had won prizes.

Manish, a resident of Darandakukku in Chikmudnoor village, Bus driver Chetan, a resident of Krishnanagar in Bannur village, Keshav Padilu, a resident of Padilu in the outskirts of Puttur, and Manjunath Yane Manju have been identified as the arrested accused.

It is said there had been a verbal duel between Akshay and members of a group over an accident in the evening. It is learnt the murder was a continued part of this altercation. It is learnt, some people had asked Akshay to come to Nehru Nagar to discuss the loss suffered due to the accident and he was literally chased by the assailants who were wielding swords and murdered. His body was found near the bushes on the road side. Blood stains were found all along the road in the area.

Akshay was residing near Vivekananda College and is survived by his parents and two brothers. A case has been registered and investigations are in progress.