Uppinangady police arrested Babu alias Rudra (68) in connection with the murder of Deepak Bengara (34), a labourer from Assam, who was found dead in an under-construction library building near the Uppinangady bus stand.
Deepak, who had worked in a bar before transitioning to labour work, was found lifeless on December 4. As Deepak often slept in abandoned buildings, the police initially faced difficulty identifying any potential suspects. However, after reviewing CCTV footage from the bus stand, they spotted suspicious movements and identified the culprit.
The accused, Babu, a resident of Kumbrage House in Kalmanja village, was captured in Deralakatte, Ullal. Upon questioning, Babu admitted to the murder.
According to the police, Babu, who was already a wanted criminal in a theft case, was seen wandering around the bus stand. Seeking refuge from the authorities, he entered the under-construction building to rest. Deepak, who was asleep there, suspected Babu of being the security guard and asked him to leave. Later, Babu discovered his mobile phone and wallet had been stolen, suspecting Deepak as the thief. Enraged, Babu confronted Deepak and, during an argument, retrieved a wooden log from a nearby hotel and struck Deepak fatally on the head.
The arrest and investigation were led by Uppinangady CI Ravi B S, SI Avinash H, and other officers, including Shivaram, Hitosh, Girish, and Ramanna Gowda.
