Representative image of an arrest.
Credit: iStock Photo
The Kadugodi police on Saturday announced the arrest of two people for the alleged murder of a labourer, which was initially dismissed as a natural death.
The key turn in the case came when the deceased Babu’s minor daughter confided in her uncle about the conspiracy to kill her father.
Based on a complaint by Raghavendra, the brother of Babu, 46, a labourer, the police arrested Muniratnamma, 40, Babu’s wife, and her relative Ramamurthy, 28, who confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Police said Babu, originally from Maloor, was staying with Muniratnamma and their two minor daughters at rented accommodation in Vajarahalli. According to the police, Babu was a drunkard and frequently assaulted and harassed his wife.
Unable to bear it, Muniratnamma sought to get rid of him and discussed the matter with Ramamurthy, who hatched a plan. On July 26, when Babu came home drunk and began his usual ordeal, his wife and her relative attacked him with a machete and a stick used to mould ragi balls.
They took him to their native place and cremated him after cooking up a story that he had died in an accident while drunk. However, Babu’s younger daughter revealed the truth to her uncle, who then informed the police.
Police have recovered the murder weapons and sent the two minor children to rescue centres for counselling.