---
title: "Police Arrest Three Suspects Following Fatal Shooting of Former Gram Panchayat Official"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/udupi-police-arrest-three-mudarangadi-murder-suspects-xrap3
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-08T07:09:39.000Z
modified: 2026-08-09T08:00:49.210Z
language: en-IN
---

# Police Arrest Three Suspects Following Fatal Shooting of Former Gram Panchayat Official

Udupi and Uttara Kannada law enforcement agencies apprehended three North Indian men on August 7 in connection with the murder of David D’Souza. The operation involved a highway pursuit and a shootout that left both a police officer and the primary suspect hospitalized.

## Key takeaways

- Udupi police arrested three men from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar for the murder of David D’Souza.
- A police sub-inspector was injured and the primary suspect was shot in the leg during a confrontation in Ottinene.
- Investigators believe financial disputes related to civil contracting at UPCL motivated the targeted killing.
- The victim, a former local official, had a history of 14 criminal cases, including firearms-related charges during past protests.

## Background

David D’Souza, the former president of the Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat, was targeted and killed on the afternoon of August 7, 2026. The attack occurred near his office, Prince Enterprises, situated close to St. Francis Xavier Church in Pilar. Surveillance footage captured the assailant striking D’Souza before firing fatal shots. The perpetrator then intimidated witnesses with a firearm before escaping on a waiting motorcycle. D’Souza, who worked as a civil contractor for Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), had a complex legal history, including 14 recorded cases mostly tied to protests against the power project.

## The Pursuit and Arrest

Following the killing, special police units from Udupi and Karkala tracked three suspects traveling toward Bhatkal by bus. Authorities intercepted the vehicle near Ottinene hillock, prompting the suspects to flee on foot. During the pursuit, 42-year-old Raju from Uttar Pradesh allegedly pushed Police Sub Inspector Tejaswi and discharged a firearm. The officer returned fire in self-defense, striking Raju in the leg. Both the suspect and the officer were subsequently admitted to a private hospital in Udupi with non-life-threatening injuries.

## Key Facts

- Main Suspect: Raju, 42, from Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended after a physical altercation and exchange of gunfire with police.
- Co-conspirators: Ajay Rastogi, 23, of Uttarakhand, and Ziahul Vazul Sheikh, 38, of Bihar, were arrested with assistance from Kumta and Bhatkal police units.
- Victim Profile: David D’Souza had prior legal encounters, including an abetment to suicide case in 2020 and a previous incident where he allegedly pointed a firearm at protesters.
- Motive: Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar indicated that preliminary findings point toward D’Souza’s financial dealings as the primary driver for the assassination.

## Why It Matters

The swift coordination between different district police forces highlights the intensity of the investigation into the murder of a local political figure. Furthermore, the victim's background as a UPCL contractor and his involvement in numerous legal cases suggest the homicide may be linked to long-standing local disputes or commercial conflicts. Law enforcement continues to analyze the victim’s financial records to determine the exact origin of the hit.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/udupi-police-arrest-three-mudarangadi-murder-suspects-xrap3
Reported from: The Hindu — National