Teacher ends life by jumping into river in Karnataka after alleged harassment by loan company

Honnali (Davanagere District): The body of a school teacher, who had jumped into the Tungabhadra river unable to bear the alleged harassment by a finance company, was retrieved on Tuesday morning.

Pushpalatha, (46), a government school teacher residing in the Durgigudi area of Honnali, had been missing since Sunday afternoon. Fire department personnel and diving experts had been conducting search operations since Monday morning.

The family alleges that Pushpalatha ended her life by jumping into the Tungabhadra river due to harassment from a finance company.

Pushpalatha was employed at the Government Higher Primary School at Tumminakatti village, Rattihalli taluk, Haveri district.

CCTV footage showed her sitting near the Raghavendra Mutt before jumping into the river.

"We had taken loans of Rs 40 lakh from a finance company and Rs 20 lakh from private lenders to build a house. The finance company was pressuring us for repayment by visiting home and school frequently, which led her to take this step," Pushpalatha's husband Halesh told reporters.

Police sources said the finance company had filed a complaint against the couple at the Honnali police station 20 days ago, alleging assault when they went to the house for loan recovery. After questioning both parties, the finance company withdrew the complaint. The couple was also considering selling their house to escape the debt burden.

Based on Halesh's complaint, a missing person case was registered at the Honnali police station.