The prime accused shooter in the murder of Congress leader and businessman David D’Souza has been arrested following a police encounter in the Ottinane area near Byndoor in Udupi district.
The accused, Raju, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was confronted by a police team during the operation to catch those involved in the murder, police said. They said the accused attacked the team during the encounter and officers shot in self-defense.
#WATCH | Udupi, Karnataka: The prime accused shooter in the murder of Congress leader and businessman David D’Souza was arrested after a police encounter in the Ottinane area near Byndoor.
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2026
The accused, identified as Raju, a native of Uttar Pradesh, sustained a gunshot injury to… pic.twitter.com/NZNddzWSZN
Raju suffered a gunshot injury to his right leg during the exchange. He was taken into custody and taken to Manipal Hospital for treatment. Authorities will monitor his medical condition and provide further details.
A police officer was also injured during the encounter. Sub-Inspector Tejasvi suffered injuries during the exchange, and he is now in a private hospital for treatment. The incident has brought a new dimension to the investigation into D’Souza's murder and the efforts by Karnataka Police to track down all those involved.
Two accused escape
While Raju was arrested, two other suspects escaped from the site during the operation. A manhunt has now been launched to locate and arrest the absconding suspects.
Police teams are searching the Ottinane and Byndoor areas as well as the rest of the district for the two men. Investigators will also examine the movements of the accused and their possible connections to the murder.
Raju was identified as the prime shooter, according to the investigation.
Investigation continues
Police will question Raju once doctors assess his condition and decide when he can be formally interrogated. Investigators might also look into the alleged weapon used in the crime, the planning behind the attack, and the roles played by the other accused.
There will also be a police investigation into the circumstances leading up to the encounter. The police will document the sequence of events, including the alleged attack on the police team and the subsequent firing in self-defense.
The murder of David D’Souza, a Congress leader and businessman, had caused alarm in the region, and police were on a hunt to find and arrest those behind it. The arrest is significant, representing a big step, but the investigation is still underway with two suspects still unaccounted for.
Police have urged the public to cooperate with the investigation and provide any information that could help locate the absconding suspects.
Since the prime accused is now in custody and the other suspects are being pursued, investigators are expected to focus on establishing the complete chain of events behind the murder and whether or not more people were involved.
The case continues to develop, and police will provide more details as the investigation progresses and when the arrested accused is interviewed.
