Petty politics turns thorny for lovers

Owing to local politics coming in the way of their marriage, a couple in love resorted to kill self by consuming poison in front of the MLA’s house here on Monday.

They have been admitted at K R Hospital in the city.

Manju, 27 and Kumari,18, of Gendatthur village in the taluk are the lovers. The two had eloped and settled in Beechanahalli three days ago. Puttanna, the girl’s father who couldn’t bear the insult committed suicide by hanging.

When  the two intended to attend the burial of Puttanna, the politics involving the girl’s uncle and MLA Chikkanna became a hurdle.

When Kumari called her uncle Chandru a GP member over phone requesting him not to perform the last rites till their arrival, Chikkanna snatched the cellphone and warned the girl with dire consequences.

Fed up of the unsavoury developments, the two decided to end their lives and consumed poison in front  of the legislator’s house in the town. The locals who noticed the duo writhing in pain, rushed them to a nearby hospital, before shifting them to Mysore.

According to sources, both belong to Beda community and the relatives had differences of opinion over fishing. While Manju belonged to the group that was against MLA’s acolytes, Kumari is the nephew of Chandru a staunch supporter of the MLA.

Speaking to media, Kumari blamed her uncle for her father’s death. She said that her father had initially given his consent for the marriage. But, he changed his opinion after Chandru interfered.

“My father who was carried over by my uncle’s words, shunted me out of the house”, alleged Kumari. Manju who also blamed the girl’s uncle for the whole mess said he and Kumari had been waiting for the latter to attain 18 years, a legal age for the girl to marry.

While the lover’s were battling life, high drama prevailed at Gendattur where the MLA staged a protest. In a clarifying tone he attributed the death of Puttanna to non-cooperation on the part of local police.

The MLA alleged that Beechanahalli police turned Puttanna back when he went to lodge a complaint about his missing daughter

The sub-inspector Nanjappa had been influenced by the town municipal council member Narasimhamurthy, Kavera and Shivaraju. Narayani wife of the deceased has submitted a memorandum in this regard to the MLA.

Speaking to media in Mysore, SP R Dileep assured to do justice to the victims. On the allegation of erring local police, he promised to take stern action against the police personnel if they are found guilty.