Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials on Thursday arrested the prime accused in connection with the murders of four BJP workers and an attempt to kill another.

Ateeq Shareef, 39, was on the run for several years before the Bengaluru Police could lock his legs. He was wanted after he reportedly murdered Shashikumar in 2008, Sathish and Ramesh Pai in 2009 and Raju in 2016. The accused also attempted to murder another BJP worker, Giridhar, who managed to survive the brutal attack.

Ramesh's murder on Ashoka Road in Mysuru remained a mystery for years where his brother Anand Pai managed to escape from the jaws of the death. Due to severe bleeding, Ramesh died on the spot. Ramesh's death became a reason for communal riots in parts of Mysuru.

In Giridhar's case, he was brutally attacked in front of his house which is located behind the Mysuru Central Prison. He managed to survive after he responded to medical treatment in a hospital.

In 2016, Raju was attacked with a butcher knife near a tea stall in Mysuru’s Udayagiri, which again raised a communal tension in the city. The BJP national president Amit Shah also visited the deceased's house to pay his last respects.

Presently, Shareef is in judicial custody and the police officials reportedly denied to provide further information on how did they managed to arrest Shareef. The investigation is underway.