Senior geologist found murdered in South Bengaluru home

Bengaluru: A woman officer with the Department of Mines and Geology was found murdered in her southern Bengaluru home on Sunday, according to police.

Prathima KS, a 45-year-old senior geologist, was strangled and her throat was slit, Rahul Kumar Shahapurwad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South, said.

Prathima’s job involved going on raids.

Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Dayananda KA said that she had told him about the difficulties in controlling lorries bringing in gravel stones from Tamil Nadu. According to Dayananda, he had told senior and junior geologists to crack down on illegal mining.

Police were notified of Prathima’s death at 8.30 am after her brother Pratheesh found her body at her house in Doddakallasandra under the Subramanyapura station limits. The deceased stayed on the first floor of a two-storyed independent house in the residential locality.

“Around 8 pm on Saturday, the deceased was dropped off at home from her office by her driver,” the DCP said. “Three teams have been formed to conduct the investigations. Since she had been working in Bengaluru Urban for the last four years, she had stayed in a rented house.”

Satheesh Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police (West), said there were definite clues, and the probe was on.

“Prima facie, it appears that the crime may have been committed in the night,” Kumar said. “Since no valuables were stolen, prima facie, we suspect the involvement of someone known to the deceased.”

Scene of crime officers, officials from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and technical experts visited the crime scene and collected samples and other details. A report is awaited.

Prathima is survived by her husband, who resides in Shivamogga’s Thirthahalli, and a 16-year-old son. She had visited Thirthahalli in October for a housewarming ceremony and stayed for a week before returning, one of her family members told a Kannada TV channel.

Prathima’s body was handed over to her family on Sunday evening after an autopsy at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS).

No sign of theft

Before Prathima’s brother found her body on Sunday morning, he had called her a few times on her phone late on Saturday evening, but received no response, police said.

Preliminary probe found no forced entry or missing valuables. Prathima’s body was on the bed inside the bedroom fully clothed without other injuries apart from the gash on the neck, a senior officer revealed. “The grill door was latched on the inside, but it could have been done by anyone by inserting their hands through the gap,” DCP Shahapurwad told DH. “We are also checking who she spoke with last as part of the probe.”

Well-placed sources said some probable suspects were identified, but their involvement was yet to be established. There were also no CCTV cameras at her house, they said.

A case has been registered under IPC Section 302 (punishment for murder).

DC asked geologists to crack down on illegal mining

Dayananda KA, Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban, who visited the scene of the crime, said that Prathima never complained of problems or pressure concerning her work.

“She met me once a week regarding official work. She had told me that it was difficult to control the entry of lorries from Tamil Nadu as it would cause road blockages on the highway,” the DC told reporters.

Responding to a question on whether the geologist received any threats, the DC said: “She never informed us of such problems. I told her once: ‘You are very happy despite being in the Department of Mines and Geology.’ She was a very positive officer.”

“A month ago, I had told senior and junior geologists to hold raids and crack down on illegal mining. I had also told them that lorries bringing gravel stones from Tamil Nadu were not being controlled and to look into it.”

Car driver goes missing

Police sources said that Prathima’s car driver Kiran was dismissed a week ago, adding that her subsequently appointed new driver, Chetan, had dropped her home on the night of the murder.

“As the murder came to light, Kiran was found missing and his phone has been switched off since,” the sources said. “The probe was on to trace him as his role is suspected.”