Madikeri, November 13: The district police have formed a special squad to trace the accused who cheated a person of Rs 1 lakh in the name of Tourism and District Minister S.R. Mahesh, and started investigation.

The incident came to light very late. A Bengaluru-based person was cheated by a gang of three persons. A case was registered at Madikeri town police station and the special team intensified the investigation. Madikeri CPI Anup Madappa said that the team would nab the accused within a couple of days.

About incident

Bengaluru Banashankari resident Linge Gowda was basically from Maddur village and he has 7 acres of land in Kushalnagar. He has submitted an application to the deputy commissioner’s office for conversion of the land and the files were ready for the conversion.

In view of this, Linge Gowda had arrived at Kushalnagar on November 3 to get the records and stayed there. On November 4, when came to the DC office, a person enquired him about his purpose. When Linge Gowda explained as to why he has come to DC office, the stranger introduced himself as case worker Girish and he has prepared all his land conversion documents and asked him to pay Rs 1 lakh fee for land conversion and additional Rs 1000 for other expenses.

The stranger called another person over phone and handed over the mobile to Linge Gowda saying that he was the personal secretary to District Minister S.R. Mahesh. From other end, the person introduced himself as the personal assistant of the Minister and said all his land conversion documents were ready. Later, that person asked Linge Gowda to speak to Minister S.R. Mahesh over phone and handed over the phone to someone who claimed himself as S.R. Mahesh and said all documents were ready and take them from Girish and disconnected the phone call.

Believing this drama, Linge Gowda admitted that he has only Rs 4,000 cash in hand and he has Rs 47,000 in bank account. Later, he took that stranger to the bank. For the remaining Rs 50,000, Linge Gowda called his friend and asked him to transfer Rs 50,000 to his account. Later, he has drawn Rs 97,000 from a private bank at Kodava Samaj commercial complex and gave total Rs 1,01,000 to the stranger. After getting the amount, the stranger informed Linge Gowda that he would go to the taluk office to pay the fee and will come back to DC office where you can get the documents. But when Linge Gowda waited for the stranger at the DC office, he did not turn up. When he called him over the phone, the phone was switched off. Later, he realized that he was cheated.

Later, he lodged a complaint at the city police station. The police suddenly checked the CCTV camera footage at the DC office and bank. Now, the special team intensified the investigation. Now, the CPI said that the police would arrest the cheaters soon.

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Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.

The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.

The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.

Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.

Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.

“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”

“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”

Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.

State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.

Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.