Bengaluru: Real estate businessman hacked to death in broad daylight

A 39-year-old real estate businessman was hacked to death by two unidentified assailants in broad daylight near the businessman’s office in Yelahanka New Town in north Bengaluru on Friday.

The deceased’s wife, who nearly witnessed the gruesome attack, with the help of passersby, rushed him to a hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased has been identified as Charan Gowda, a resident of Kogilu Cross in Yelahanka. He originally hailed from Channapatna taluk in the Bengaluru South district.

According to the police, Charan and his wife arrived at his office around 10 a.m. in a car. While his wife got out of the vehicle and climbed the stairs to the first floor, two masked men ambushed Charan and attacked him with machetes. Hearing him scream, his wife rushed down the stairs, and the assailants continued the attack before fleeing on a two-wheeler without a number plate.

“Charan still had a pulse and was shifted to a nearby hospital, but he eventually succumbed to his injuries. A murder case has been registered,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the assailants had planned the attack well in advance and had kept track of the deceased’s movements, as they were waiting for him at the spot.

The police said Charan owned a real estate firm, which he had been running for over 10 years. He was involved in developing small layouts on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The Yelahanka New Town police have retrieved CCTV footage from the vicinity and have launched a manhunt for the accused. Special teams have been formed to track them down.