Hubballi (PTI): Police opened fire on two key murder accused in Hubballi on Sunday morning, shooting them in the legs after they allegedly attacked officers and attempted to flee during a spot inspection linked to a three-day-old murder case, officials said.

The incident is related to the murder of Malik Jaan (27) who was allegedly stabbed to death by eight to ten people on Mantur Road under Bendigeri police station limits.

Police had arrested the main suspects, Balaraj alias Balu and Mohammed Hafeez along with a few others in connection with the case.

On Sunday morning, the police team took them to Mantur Road for spot inspection based on their information that their gang members often meet at a shed there.

At the spot, the accused pelted stones at the police officers in a bid to escape.

Three policemen were injured in the stone-pelting and were admitted to KIMS Hospital.

Police Commissioner N Shashikumar visited the hospital and reviewed the incident.

Speaking to reporters Shashikumar said the police took many people including Balaraj and Hafeez into the custody and questioned them.

"Balaraj said he was into transporting sheep. It was just to dodge police. His full time activity was crime such as robbery and threatening people with his gang. He used to act as henchman for any crime," the police officer said.

Another accused was Mohammed Hafeez, against whom there were several cases pending in many police stations and some of those cases pertains to alleged acts of robbery, attempt to murder and murder, he added.

Speaking about the shootout, Shashikumar said, the police inspector fired two rounds in the air and shot the accused in their legs to prevent them from attacking police and fleeing.

According to him, three police officers were also injured in this incident who have been admitted to the hospital along with the accused.

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Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.

Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.

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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.

On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.

Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.