BENGALURU: A 45-year-old former corporator from Chalavadipalya ward was stabbed at least 17 times by two aides and relatives in public, minutes after she distributed free breakfast for the poor outside her office on Thursday morning.
Rekha Kadiresh (BJP), twice corporator and resident of Chalavadipalya (Cottonpet), died en route to hospital.
She was the second wife of rowdy-sheeter Kadiresh, who was hacked to death in February 2018.
She is survived by a son and daughter.
Police identified the attackers as Peter and Surya based on eyewitness accounts and digital evidence, including CCTV footage.
Police learnt that another suspect Stephen helped Peter and Surya.
The murder took place around 10.30am outside Rekha’s office at Flower Garden.
Rekha, who lived nearby, reached there by 9.30 am.
She distributed breakfast among the poor and stepped out of her office to return home when Peter and Surya accosted her.
One stabbed her in the neck with a knife and the other hit her on the head with a dagger.
People in the area scurried for cover.
Rekha ran into a small lane, where the duo stabbed her multiple times and fled.
Passersby rushed her to the nearby Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival around 11am.
Police concluded it was a well-planned murder as the miscreants had turned several CCTV cameras in the areas away from the crime scene.
S Murugan, ACP, said police have collected information from eyewitnesses about the killers.
“We’ll nab them soon,” he added.
Police deployed additional men at Rekha’s office and at KIMS hospital.
Rekha’s relative and primary suspect Peter had been her ardent supporter and it’s not clear why he turned against her.
Rekha’s son Rahul told police his mother had arranged for him and his sister to live in BTM Layout after his father’s murder.
“I requested her to stay with us but she preferred Chalavadipalya.
Peter was close to my father and mother,” Rahul said.
A senior police officer said they’re checking for the Kadiresh couple’s old rivals, financial disputes and political jealousy.
According to sources, a few of Kadiresh’s relatives were planning to contest the next BBMP elections but saw Rekha’s hold over the ward a hurdle.
“Peter, Surya and Stephen were her relatives.
We’re verifying the suspects’ financial transactions and collecting more details about them,” a police officer said.
Peter had been arrested for allegedly killing one of Kadiresh’s killers and was currently out on bail.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa said he had spoken with police commissioner Kamal Pant about the case.
“I’ve instructed police to arrest the killers within 24 hours,” he added.
Home minister Basavaraj Bommai has instructed Pant to ensure a thorough probe.
Watch Shocking: 45-year-old ex-corporator stabbed 17 times in public in Bengaluru