Representative image of a police van
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Bengaluru: A man allegedly murdered his wife and then killed himself while their six-year-old child was at home in western Bengaluru on Wednesday, police officials said.
The deceased are Suresh V (40), an autorickshaw driver, and his wife Mamata G (32), a garment worker. They resided in a house in Kalinagara, police officials said.
“At the time of the incident, the couple’s six-year-old child was at home. Their 13-year-old child was away,” a police investigator told DH.
The Byadarahalli police have registered a case and launched an investigation. “Prima facie, it appears to be a case related to domestic dispute,” a police officer said.
Investigations revealed that the incident occurred between 7 am and 11.25 am.
The police said the six-year-old boy called his maternal grandmother, Rukmini, at 11.25 am to inform her that Mamata was unresponsive and requested her to come over immediately.
Rukmini, who is also the complainant and lives near the deceased’s residence, arrived shortly to find the child at the window.
She unlocked the house with her key and entered, finding Mamata unconscious on the diwan in a room. Blood dripped from Mamata’s nose, and she had scratch marks on her face, the police said.
In the other room, which was locked, she found Suresh hanging from the ceiling fan. The police suspect that Suresh first strangled Mamata, possibly using a bedsheet or a pillow, and then took his own life.
Investigations revealed that the couple had been married for 14 years and had lived in their current residence for two months. They previously resided with Suresh’s parents in Bhadravathi, Shivamogga.
Rukmini alleged that Suresh was currently unemployed, failed to pay the house rent, and frequently engaged in altercations with Mamata.
“Despite being advised by elders, Suresh continued his behaviour,” the complainant told the police. “On February 24, Suresh’s father had advised him. Suresh left home that night and returned on February 26, and then the incident occurred.”
The Byadarahalli police have registered a case under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway.