Continuing investigations into the J.P. Nagar rowdy murder case, the J.P. Nagar police have arrested a 21-year-old woman in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter Raju alias Halmurka Raju in J.P. Nagar, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.

The accused has been identified as Akshatha, who worked in a readymade garment shop, and who, according to the police, played a crucial role in helping the assailants locate the victim before the murder.

According to investigators, Akshatha, who was allegedly associated with the Bat Santu gang, tracked Raju’s movements and informed the killers about his whereabouts. CCTV footage reportedly shows her arriving on a two-wheeler and leading the assailants, who were travelling in a car, to the exact location where Raju was present.

The police had earlier arrested four accused, including the prime accused Santu alias Bat Santu. The murder is believed to have been carried out as revenge for the earlier killings of Stand Kutti and Bat Santu’s brother-in-law, stemming from a rivalry that had continued for nearly a decade.

Another CCTV angle has revealed the brutality of the attack. The accused allegedly chased and hacked Raju to death with long machetes in the middle of a busy road, showing little regard for public safety. The video went viral on social media.

After murdering Raju, the accused allegedly escaped from the scene in a car. The police said the investigation is continuing and efforts are under way to gather further evidence and establish the roles of any additional conspirators.