Police had to open fire to nab the three accused in the triple murder cases that shook Mandya, in the early hours of Monday.
Based on the clues at the crime spot, the police traced the accused and found them at a bus shelter near Sadolalu Gate, in Maddur taluk, Mandya district. According to the police, when asked to surrender, the trio tried to escape after attacking the police, who then had to open fire.
Read | 3 priests murdered in Mandya, temple offerings stolen
The accused have been identified as Vijay, 30, from Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi, 28, of Arakal Doddi Maddur taluk and Manju, 30, of Thoppanahalli, Maddur taluk.
The trio, who sustained leg injuries, have been admitted to the Maddur taluk hospital for treatment.
A police sub-inspector and two constables were also injured in the operation and are under treatment.
The police department had formed five teams to nab the murderers.
Superintendent of Police K Parashuram said, "We fired in the air and told them to surrender. When they tried to escape after attacking police personnel, we aimed gunfire at their legs. Details will follow soon," he said.
Three priests of the Sri Arkeshwara Swamy temple, at Guttalu in Mandya city, were murdered and temple donation boxes looted on Thursday night.