In a shocking development, BJP leader in Bengaluru Rekha Kadiresh, who was the former corporator, was on Thursday hacked to death by three men. According to reports, 45-year-old Rekha had served as a two-time corporator elected in BJP's ticket from Chalawadipalya ward of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). 

In the morning hours of Thursday, Rekha was distributing food packets at Anjanappa garden during which three men had attacked with machetes and hacked her to death. The incident had happened at around 10.30 am and after the incident, the police had rushed the former corporator to Victoria hospital. However, she was declared dead due to excessive blood loss. 

The police had identified the attackers as Peter, Robert, and Stephen and all three are neighbours of the deceased leader. The preliminary inquiry had revealed that it was a pre-planned murder as seven surveillance cameras that were installed in the area, including the cameras outside the local BJP office, were found to have been turned away from the street. 

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has launched the probe and the special team has been investigating the matter in all angles including family feud, personal enmity, and political tussle. The reports say that of three assailants, Peter and Stephen were in jail two months back and they were out on bail. It is suspected that the duo had planned Rekha's murder. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) S Murugan said, "The former corporator was distributing food to people outside the local BJP office. After the attack, she was shifted to hospital. But, she had succumbed to the injuries and the police are investigating." It must be noted that Rekha's husband Kadiresh was killed three years ago. The reports say that Kadiresh was hacked to death by four armed men near Muneshwara temple in Cottonpet on February 7, 2018. 

The murder was said to be due to a personal tussle and of four murderers, Naveen and Vinay had surrendered before the court days after killing Kadiresh, while the other two are still at large.  Speaking to the media on Thursday, former corporator Umesh Shetty had expressed his shock over the murder of Rekha. Shetty said, "Rekha tried hard to overcome her grief after her husband's murder. Her late husband could have had a tussle with these men and today, we are shocked to know that these assailants have brutally attacked a woman and murdered her."