A file photo of Jogupalya. Analysing footage from multiple CCTV cameras in the area, Indiranagar police identified the serial slasher as a rowdy-sheeter named Kadamba, who is a resident of Jogupalya.
| Photo Credit: File photo
Panic gripped residents of Indiranagar in Bengaluru after a knife-wielding man stabbed four persons, including two pani puri vendors, in less than half hour at night on February 8. All four sustained injuries, but are out of danger.
A message on social media and WhatsApp groups claimed that a serial killer was on the loose in the area, and asked people to be alert. The message went viral on February 9.
However, police have clarified that there is no serial killer on the loose in the area. The culprit has been identified as Kadamba, a rowdy-sheeter at Indiranagar Police Station. Four special teams have been formed to track down the accused and arrest him.
“A total of four persons were stabbed by the man. We have registered four FIRs. We have identified him. Efforts are on to track him down,” a senior police official said.
I Change Indiranagar, a federation of RWAs of Indiranagar, took to social media asking residents not to panic.
Man goes on slashing spree
According to the four victims, the accused was wearing a red T-shirt, white pants and a black cap.
The first attack took place at 9.30 p.m. A man with a knife in his hand confronted 19-year-old Jaswanth who was riding a scooter to fetch drinking water. The accused allegedly forcefully got on his scooter and told him to move. When Jaswanth refused to take a right turn as directed, the accused allegedly slashed his throat and ran away.
Ten minutes later, the accused approached Deepak Kumar, 24, a roadside pani puri vendor. He asked him for pani puri. When Deepak said it was over and he was closing the stall, the accused waited for other customers to go before slashing his neck. He then left the spot.
Ten minutes later, the accused went to Thammaiah, 44, another pani puri vendor. He had pani puri, but slashed the neck of the vendor after being told to pay for the same.
He then attacked a passer-by.
All the four victims suffered injuries in their neck. They were rushed to nearby private hospitals by passers-by. A senior city police official said that all four suffered major injuries, but were ‘out of danger’.
Slasher is a rowdy named in six cases
Analysing footage from multiple CCTV cameras in the area, Indiranagar police identified the serial slasher as a rowdy-sheeter named Kadamba, who is a resident of Jogupalya.
“A rowdy sheet was opened against him in May 2024, and preventive actions had also been initiated against him. He has a total of six cases pending — one of burglary, two of assault and three robbery cases. He has a history of mobile robbery after consumption of alcohol. He has a habit of picking up petty quarrels with neighbours over trivial reasons,” a senior police official said.
Published – February 10, 2025 12:08 pm IST