VARANASI: A former department head at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) allegedly hatched a revenge plot, hiring a contract killer to “silence” his successor. Iron rods swung in the dark, leaving Prof Challa Sriramachandra Murthy battered but alive. The “mastermind” is on the run.Telugu department head Murthy is recovering from fractures in both arms after surviving the campus hit job on July 28, allegedly orchestrated by his predecessor Budati Venkatesh Lu. According to Varanasi police, the alleged plot began after Lu lost the department’s headship following a complaint from Murthy.The conspiracy surfaced after Tuesday night’s arrest of alleged hitman Pramod Kumar alias Ganesh Pasi of Prayagraj – wounded in the leg during a shootout near Dafi in Varanasi. Hours earlier, police had nabbed Bhutpur Bhaskar from Narayanpet district of Telangana – a former research scholar accused of arranging the attackers. Another alleged accomplice, Vedant Bhushan Mishra of Jaunpur, was held earlier.ADCP T Saravanan said Bhaskar admitted he had been in contact with Lu since 2016. Bhaskar told investigators Lu introduced him to Mohammed Qasim Babu, an assistant professor at Kaimur University, who allegedly pushed for revenge.On July 25, Bhaskar and Qasim flew from Telangana to Varanasi, checked into a hotel, and allegedly called Pramod to hire muscle. Police said Pramod brought in Mishra, Suraj Dubey, Pradyuman Yadav, and Vishal Yadav from Ghazipur district. After a recce of Murthy’s movements, the group ambushed him near Birla Hostel as he rode home on a motorcycle, attacking with iron rods before fleeing.When police closed in Tuesday night, Pramod allegedly opened fire before being hit in the leg. Police seized a firearm, live cartridges, and cash from him. Pramod told investigators he was paid money to kill Murthy, police said.With arrests mounting, Lu vanished, switching off all phones. Manhunts are under way for Lu and the four other suspects – Dubey, Pradyuman Yadav, Vishal Yadav, and Qasim. BHU faculty staged a protest on campus after the attack, demanding justice.