Ramesh, the accused in the murder at KIA on Wednesday. | Photo credit: Special agreement
A 45-year-old man, who worked as a trolley driver at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), was stabbed to death in the arrivals area of Terminal 1 in front of security personnel and passengers on Wednesday evening (August 28).
The deceased, Ramakrishna, was picking up the shopping cart left by a passenger when the accused, identified as Ramesh, confronted him and stabbed him to death. The assailant, who was detained by Central Industrial Security Force personnel, was later handed over to the International Airport Police along with the knife he used to commit the crime.
Panic broke out in the airport when the trolley driver was found dead in a pool of blood before the body could be recovered. Senior police officials said the attacker did not enter the terminal area and the incident occurred outside in a parking lot. Since he did not enter the terminal, security personnel did not check his bag, a police official said, ruling out a security breach.
The incident took place around 6.30 pm. Preliminary investigation revealed that both Ramesh, a private bus driver, and the deceased Ramakrishna were from Thimmanahalli in Madhugiri taluk of Tumakuru. Ramakrishna was allegedly in a relationship with Ramesh's wife for the past three years and the couple separated in 2021. Investigations have now revealed that Ramesh had already tried to kill Ramakrishna twice.
On Tuesday, a heated argument broke out between the two on the phone. Ramesh then decided to take him out and took a knife in his backpack, boarded a bus at Madhugiri and got down at Yelahanka. He then boarded a BMTC bus and headed towards KIA. At the arrival point, where he usually picked up the trolleys, he waited for Ramakrishna and attacked him.
The international airport police have registered a murder case and further investigation is on, said Sajeeth VJ, deputy commissioner of police (Northeast).
