3 of a family found murdered in Karnataka

BENGALURU: In a gruesome triple murder, three members of a family, including a 15-year-old minor girl, were found brutally murdered on Wednesday noon at their house situated in an isolated farm land on the city’s outskirts in Bheemagowdana Dhoddi at Harohalli in Ramanagara.

Harohalli police along with forensic experts and a dog squad rushed to the spot soon after the incident came to light. The deceased have been identified as Maregowda, (70), a farmer, his daughter, Gowramma (42) and granddaughter, Shukanya, (15). Maregowda owned a farm land, popularly known as ‘Onti Mane’.

Police suspect the murders may have taken place late Tuesday night, but came to light only on Wednesday noon, after Maregowda’s wife Bheemamma, who had gone to visit her other daughter to Halli Maradhodi, returned home around 1 pm and found the bodies lying in a pool of blood. Since the house was located in a secluded area, there were no witnesses, said a senior police officer.

According to Ramanagara police the assailants had used sharp weapons to carry out the murders. The bodies had borne injuries on head, legs and abdomen. Initially the police had suspected it to be a murder for gain, but later ruled it out as cash and valuables, including jewellery, were found intact and there were no signs of house being ransacked. They suspect an old rivalry may have led to the murders.

Dr Chandragupta, Superintendent of Police, Ramanagara district told this newspaper, “Police have initiated the probe into the triple murder. As of now it is too early to conclude whether the murders were done for gain or over an old rivalry. We have sent the bodies for post-mortem and once the report comes then only we will be able to tell the exact reason behind the murder. We cannot rule out whether the minor girl was sexually assaulted before being murdered until the post-mortem reports come. We have sent the bodies to the city for advanced tests.”

Gowrammma had married Durgegowda 18 years ago and had four children. The couple had lived in Dhodda Bejjjahatti, but after the death of Gowramma’s husband 10 years ago she had shifted with her daughter Shukanya to her father’s house. During that period, Gowramma lost her one child due to prolonged illness, while the other two were married. Soon after the murder came to light, senior police officers, including Dr. Chandragupta and Arun Chakarvorty IGP Central Range, visited the spot. Harohalli police have registered a case and begun investigation.