Man beheads friend, walks into police station with head in sack

A man beheaded his friend over a financial dispute and walked into the Vishwanathapura police station near Devanahalli with the severed head on Sunday night.

The suspect is identified as Shashikumar, whose father is a member of Uganawadi gram panchayat. The police arrested him for murdering his friend Manjunath, 26, a resident of Kempathimmanahalli village.

Manjunath had married Manjula, a resident of Chikkajala, four months ago. She is three months’ pregnant. She was at her parents house when the murder took place, said the police.

Manjunath had borrowed

Rs 27,000 from Shashikumar. He had repaid Rs 20,000, but had refused to return the rest. He had ignored Shashikumar’s repeated requests for the repayment. Hence, Shashikumar beheaded Manjunath, police sub-inspector Baby Olekar told Deccan Herald.

Shashikumar called up Manjunath on Sunday afternoon and asked him to meet him near Uganawadi gate. However, Manjunath did not turn up. Shashikumar then went to Manjunath’s house in the evening. He took away Manjunath on the pretext of discussing the financial matter. He had an argument with Manjunath near the gate, said the police.

He took Manjunath to a desolate area and attacked him with a knife.
He repeatedly stabbed Manjunath in the abdomen. Later, he severed Manjunath’s head around 9 pm. He packed the severed head in a gunny bag and rode to the police station at 11.30 pm. He narrated the incident and surrendered before the police.

Manjunath’s mother Venkatalakshmi told DH: “I had lent Shashikumar Rs 3 lakh three years ago. He had repaid the loan in time. I had lent him Rs 5 lakh six months ago, but he has not repaid it.

“When he came home to meet Manjunath, I requested him to repay the loan. He took my son with him and went away. I never imagined he would murder him.”

Manjula told DH: “I had called up my husband on Sunday evening. He had told me that he would come to Chikkajala to pick me up at 8.30 pm. I was told about the murder only on Monday morning. Shashikumar should be punished
severely.”

Social Welfare Minister Anjaneya visited Vishwanathapura and consoled the victim’s family and gave a cheque for Rs 4 lakh. He directed the police to probe the murder thoroughly.