Chitradurga:
A lorry driver, wanted by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police in connection with over 30
rape and murder cases, has finally been arrested, a top police official said today. Shankar alias Jaishankar, suspected to be a psychopath, was wanted by Tamil Nadu police in connection with 19 rape and murder cases and Karnataka police was on the lookout for him for his role in eight murder and six rape cases, DGP S T Ramesh told reporters. He was arrested in Elagi Village in Bijapur district on Wednesday, he added.
Jaishankar had managed to give Tamil Nadu police the slip while being escorted to Coimbatore jail on March 18 and had been roaming in Tumkur and Chitradurga districts in the last 45 days, the officer said. On March 28, Jaishankar used a sharp weapon to murder three women in Nelahal village in Tumkur district after raping them, Ramesh said.
A few days later, at Yaradakatte village in the same district, Jaishankar killed one person and raped the victim's wife. He also also set their house afire. He later moved to Chitradurga district and committed four more murders and raped three women, Ramesh said. Special teams were formed to nab him and the assistance of Tamil Nadu police was also sought.
Two days ago, Jaishankar entered a house in Elagi village and attempted to rape a woman. When she alerted her neighbours, they nabbed him and handed him over to the police.
A team of police officials from Tamil Nadu arrived in Chitradurga last night and confirmed Jaishankar's identity. Ramesh announced a reward of Rs one lakh to the police team that nabbed Jaishankar.