Vijayapura, 18 Oct 

A 35-year-old notorious rowdy-sheeter, Yunus Patel, was shot dead by police near Rampur village in Sindagi taluk on Saturday after allegedly attacking officers with a knife while resisting arrest.

Patel, wanted in 12 criminal cases, including two murders and one attempt-to-murder, had been linked to a robbery on 17 October in Gandhi Chowk, Vijayapura, where he threatened a man at knifepoint, stole Rs 25,000, and fled with the victim’s scooter.

Based on a tip-off, police laid a trap near Rampur. When officers moved to arrest him, Patel reportedly attacked two constables and headbutted Inspector Pradeep Talakeri. In self-defence, the inspector first fired a warning shot and, as Patel continued his assault, shot him in the leg.

Patel was taken to Sindagi Taluk Hospital and later shifted to Vijayapura District Hospital, where he was declared dead. 

Patel had previously killed two men, including an elderly victim in 2017 and a youth in 2018, and had survived a police leg shot during an earlier knife attack. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, and investigations continue.