‘Cyanide killer’: Septuagenarian sweeper narrates last minutes of Leela
A Septuagenarian sweeper from Mysore suburb bus stand deposing before the Fast Track Court, on Wednesday narrated the last minutes of Leela, who was made to death by the accused Mohan Kumar by administering cyanide in 2005.
“I came to the bus stand in the wee hours as usual and found a young lady lying on the stone bench of the bus stand on Platform No-3. I sensed that she was in a bad state and hence I rushed to get some water to feed her. I poured some water into her mouth and asked her if I should make her lie down on the floor. She said she was not in a position to move. Within no time, she embraced death in front of my eyes,” said Rangamma, a 75-year-old lady narrating the six-year-old incident. Rangamma has been sweeping the bus stand over the last 30 years.
Innocent Rangamma
While the entire Court room smiled at the innocence of Rangamma who joined her hands to make a prayer every time the pendulum of the clock struck, thinking it was the sound of bell of some temple, the lady fearlessly narrated the scenes to reality, leaving glimpses of Leela’s death at the Court room.
Puttur general hospital doctor Vijay Kumar, who had confirmed potency of Mohan Kumar, photographer Vijayan, who had clicked pictures of the dead body of Leela at Mysore bus stand, Laskar station retired ASI Kumarasamy and Police Constable Vasantha Kumar deposed before the Court on Wednesday.
Reimbursed
To everyone’s surprise the economically backward witnesses who had come from far away places to the Court were reimbursed for their travel expenses.
Judge Ningannagowda Jatli told the Public Prosecutor Cheyyabba Beary to see to it that the witnesses from distant places are taken care. As against the usual practice of reimbursing the witnesses over post, this time the reimbursement was done on the spot.
Witness Raju, a room boy in a lodge in Mysore was given the amount payable to him right at the Court itself, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Rangamma was given her allowance too.
