The Hassan police on December 10 arrested the prime accused in the murder of a 21-year-old youth at Bittagowdanahalli near Hassan on December 9. Ullas, 21, an autorickshaw driver from Dodda Kanagal, a village in Alur taluk, and two others, allegedly murdered Keerthi, 21, of Huvinahalli in Hassan taluk, on December 8.
The murder came to light on December 9 after Ullas, the accused, posted a video clip showing himself with the dead body. In the video clip that went viral, Ullas had claimed that he and others committed the murder. Keerthi’s brother Kiran, who also received the video clip on his phone, identified the deceased as his brother and filed a complaint at the Hassan Town Police station. The police registered the case under the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, apart from sections under the BNS.
Mohammed Sujeetha, Hassan Superintendent of Police, on December 10 told the media that Ullas and other accused involved in the case were friends of Keerthi, the deceased. They had met on December 7 and had an altercation over some differences. They met again the next day and following an argument, Ullas and the others murdered Keerthi. Efforts are under way to trace the others involved.
Published – December 10, 2025 07:23 pm IST
