Shock waves of mass murder hit Bengalur. A cab driver Indushekhar was arrested for allegedly killing seven members of his wife’s family including his wife Sunitha following a long domestic dispute.
The accused used grinding stone to attack the victims and then disposed off their bodies at different places to hide the crime. According to police, the shocking incident took place in connection with family dispute between the accused, his wife and her relatives.
People are worried over the case while Bengaluru police have launched an investigation to recover all bodies and establish complete sequence of events.
Indushekhar and Sunitha were married for almost two decades and were living near Bhashyam Circle in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru. But their relationship had allegedly broken down in recent years due to repeated family quarrels.
The accused was unhappy with Sunitha’s close association with her mother and brothers (according to preliminary police information). Sunitha continued visiting her parents house at Srirampura even when husband objected.
Accused wanted her to break all ties with maternal family but when she refused he became more resentful towards her. Relatives and others tried several times to resolve the dispute by discussions and reconciliation meetings but disagreements continued.
Investigators suspect that the accused developed hostility towards his wife's family and allegedly started seeing them as an obstacle to his married life. Police say murders were planned rather than from a sudden quarrel.
Sunitha was first victimised. The accused hit her on the head with grinding stone and killed her. He reportedly took her body to Nandi Hills area and threw it there. The next day he told people that Sunitha went for trip with friends. He allegedly switched off her mobile phone so nobody could contact her and not to alarm neighbours and relatives.
Police investigation further states that the accused then invited two of his friends Shivakumar and Shankar to his house under the pretext of a drinking party but both men were murdered after reaching at the house.
The accused allegedly continued killing by attacking family members of both Shivakumar and Shankar. Shankar's wife Nalini and Shivakumar's wife Divya are said to be among those killed. Roopavathi, mother-in-law of accused was also allegedly killed along with Shankar's son Puneeth.
Police suspect that victims were called to the house individually or in separate cases and attacked using the same grinding stone. They were allegedly shifted to different places so as not to be found out.
Another disturbing aspect of the case is alleged attempts to destroy evidence after the murders. According to preliminary investigation, accused cleaned house to remove bloodstains and chemicals were used to wash grinding stone that was believed to have been used in attacks.
Police reportedly seized grinding stone and car allegedly used for transporting bodies as well. Investigators are looking at forensic evidence and other material collected from residence to reconstruct incidents and movements of accused.
The case came to light when members of Sunitha's family went missing under suspicious circumstances. Sunitha's mother approached the Srirampura police station and complained about her missing relatives.
Based on her complaint police started an investigation and questioned people related to the family. Indushekhar was suspected as he gave inconsistent statements. During investigation police checked his residence and allegedly found clues linking him to murders. After being repeatedly questioned, he confessed to killings according to the police investigation.
One of the major developments in the case was the recovery of Puneeth’s body from Nandi Hills. Police took the accused to that place and carried out a massive search operation. After several hours of searching investigators found the body. It was an important breakthrough in the investigation as police continued to find rest of the victims. Police teams are reportedly going to different places based on information gathered during questioning.
Senior police officers have also taken charge of the investigation since the alleged seven-member murder case is serious.
West Division Joint Commissioner of Police Vamshi Krishna and North Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Nema Gowda were said to have visited Rajajinagar police station and reviewed the investigation. A special team of three ACPs was formed under DCP supervision to coordinate search operations, collect evidence and probe into circumstances leading to deaths.
The alleged Bengaluru mass murder has raised serious questions about what happened before the tragedy and whether accused tried to cover it up. Police are still trying to recover the remaining bodies, verify sequence of events and forensic / other evidence for motive.
Though arrest is a big step but investigators have a tough job ahead of them complete recovery operation and build case. More official updates awaited as investigation proceeds.
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