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BENGALURU: A 25-year-old youth joined a gang run by a history-sheeter to eliminate another goon, who allegedly posted abusive comments about his mother on Facebook. Lokesh alias Masana (graveyard) Loki, a history-sheeter and a resident of Nagarbhavi, was hacked to death at 5th Cross, Azadnagar on January 22, said police.

According to cops, Hemanth alias Gidigidi, who sought revenge for the online abuse, joined a gang of criminals led by Ittamadu Sagar to kill Lokesh.

Nine people - Hemanth, Ittamadu Sagar, 22, Praveen,22, Sandesh alias Charli, 22, Tejas alias Bully, 22, Uday alias Kappe, 19, Sagar S, 21, Ravi B, 23 and Yashwanth alias Yashu, 22 - all residents of south Bengaluru have landed in police net.

On January 22, Lokesh was returning home alone in his bike after dropping his cousin Nanda in Chamarajpet when Sandesh spotted him. After alerting his associates, Sandesh stopped Lokesh and began chatting with him.

The two casually spoke for over 10 minutes by which time Hemanth, Sagar and the rest of the gang arrived and attacked Lokesh.

"Our initial hunch was that Sagar's gang may have killed Lokesh over a woman or some old rivalry. But investigation revealed Hemanth, a resident of Adarshanagar in CK Achchukattu, wanted to take revenge and the murder was committed at his behest," said Ramesh Banoth, deputy commissioner of police (west).

"Hemanth was involved in a murder case in Jnanabharathi area when he was 16 years old. He spent two years in the state boys' home. Since his release from the home, he hadn't indulged in any criminal activity and earned his living by selling decorative lightings," said police.

However, one day in 2018, Hemanth found that an unknown person - from an account named Mukku Mukku - had been posting abusive stuff about his mother.

"Hemanth learnt that Lokesh was the person behind the posts. Around the same time, he also acquainted himself with Sagar. Having learnt about Hemanth's grouse against Lokesh, Sagar invited him to join his gang and told Hemanth that he too wanted to eliminate Lokesh. Hemanth immediately agreed and became a part of the gang, following which the murder plan was executed," said police.

Another police official said Hemanth not only supported Sagar financially, but was also actively involved in planning and executing the murder. According to police, Sagar wanted to establish his dominance in Ittamadu and CK Achchukattu, where Lokesh was 'popular'.

