Mangaluru: The police have arrested five persons in connection with the murder of Sampath Kumar, at Shanthinagara in Sullia.

The victim, Sampath Kumar, was a suspect in the murder of BJP leader Balachandra Kalagi. He was hacked and shot dead from point-blank range by the assailants.

The police are yet to reveal the names of the arrested as the identification process is in progress, said Superintendent of Police B M Laxmi Prasad.

The police arrested five persons when they were trying to flee in a car on Subrahmanya-Bisleghat road. The police have also seized three revolvers, one sharp-edged weapon, and a knife.