Bengaluru: A 42-year-old advocate was shot dead at his residence in Pattandur Agrahara, Whitefield, late Sunday night, allegedly by two tenants who work as delivery agents in the city, following a dispute over unpaid rent.The suspects, identified as Pankaj Dube and Amit Kumar Dube – both from Bihar – had been living in a small room behind the house of the victim, B Manjunath, for around one and a half years. Police investigations revealed that they had not paid the rent for three months.According to a complaint lodged by Manjunath’s brother, Muniraju, the advocate had reprimanded the tenants over the pending rent Sunday night. The incident is suspected to have triggered the murder.“First, they came near the house and spoke to Manjunath for some time. Saying they would return with the money, they went back. Around 11.45 pm, one of them returned and called Manjunath out,” Muniraju said.A close relative, Akshay, said one of the suspects handed over the rent to Manjunath. While the advocate was counting the cash, the other suspect allegedly approached him from behind and fired a bullet into his head.Manjunath was rushed to hospital, where the doctors declared him dead after attempts to revive him failed. He is survived by his wife and two minor children. His family has four siblings, and its ancestral properties include extensive landholdings and buildings.Deputy commissioner of police (Whitefield) Saiduly Adavat said cops launched a manhunt for the suspects, who allegedly fled on separate motorcycles. Another senior police officer said investigators had leads on their whereabouts and were probing how they got the firearm.The officer expressed concern over the alleged use of an illegal pistol for the killing. Police will investigate where the weapon was purchased and whether the suspects’ associates or relatives possess other illegal firearms, he said.2nd shooting in a weekThe murder comes a week after a realtor allegedly shot and injured his former car driver near Konanakunte over a business dispute. The realtor had fired a round into the driver’s leg using his licensed revolver. Police arrested the realtor and seized the weapon. The driver is recovering in hospital.BoxAssociation seeks speedy probeCondemning Manjunath’s killing, Advocates Association Bengaluru president Subba Reddy said representatives of the organisation met police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh and sought a speedy investigation. The association also discussed the need for guidelines for private firms hiring workers from other states and for house owners providing accommodation to them, he said.Manjunath’s neighbour Siddegowda expressed shock over the incident and called for measures to prevent such attacks.
