Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (MS)

Dharwad, Dec 14: The shootout that took place at a resort at Navalur here has taken a new twist. The police are suspecting that this was done in order to kill either Vinay Kulkarni, a minister in the government of Karnataka or Basavaraj Muttagi, who is accused in the murder of Yogesh Gowda.

This information was divulged by M N Nagaraj, police commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad at Vidyagiri police station of Dharwad on Wednesday, December 13. He said, "Three accused have fired two rounds of bullets. Basavaraj Muttagi was present at the resort when this incident took place. As per the information received, minister Vinay was also about to arrive. The clarity as to why the shots were fired will be available after the investigation."

It might be recalled that on the night of Tuesday, December 12, three accused shot two rounds of bullets near a pan shop in front of the resort, where a marriage function was in progress. This was informed by the eyewitnesses to the police. The accused said that they fired in self-defense. However, there was no one chasing them. So the police are suspecting that they might have attempted to murder either the minister or Basavaraj Muttagi.