Mangaluru: The police have nabbed Bharath Kumar Kumdelu, a key conspirator in the murder case of SDPI leader Ashraf, said sources. However the police have not yet confirmed his arrest.

The brutal hacking of Ashraf Kalayi on June 21 by few bike-borne miscreants had further fuelled tensions in the district which had already been clamped down with prohibitory orders following few communal clashes.

The news of this arrest comes a few days after another key conspirator, Divyaraj Shetty was arrested by the police. The duo had allegedly conspired to kill Ashraf. Pavan Kumar alias Punda (24), Santhosh alias Santhu (23), Shivaprasad alias Shivu (24), Ranjith (28) and Abhin Rai (23) are the others arrested in connection to the case.

Reportedly, Bharath had been spotted sharing the stage with Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat during a press meet just a few days before the murder.