Police investigation into the shocking murder of seven members of a family in Rajajinagar Bengaluru has thrown up disturbing details about the last four days of seven-year-old Puneeth.
Police said that Indushekhar who allegedly murdered Shivakumar and Divya kept the boy alive for four days even after killing him. The accused took the child along when he was carrying his parents’ bodies and then killed him and disposed of his body near Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district, police sources said.
This adds another disturbing dimension to an already shocking case which has sent shockwaves through Karnataka. Five of the seven bodies have been recovered so far while search for the remaining two Shankar and Nalini is going on in Shiradi Ghat region. Police are trying to establish the sequence of events, where the accused went and what led to the alleged murders.
According to the preliminary timeline emerging from the investigation Shivakumar, Divya and their son Puneeth reached Indushekhar’s house on the evening of October 24. The family went to the accused’s residence where the alleged murders took place later.
Shivakumar was allegedly murdered between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm on October 24. Divya was allegedly killed in the early hours of October 25 when she woke up to use the washroom at around 4 am. After the murders were allegedly committed, the accused put Shivakumar and Divya’s bodies in bags and loaded them into his car.
How the accused allegedly carried out the crime and tried to cover it up is what investigators are looking into now. The child who was present during all these events is one of the most disturbing parts of the investigation.
The investigation also revealed that Indushekhar left Bengaluru for Mysuru on the night of October 26 with Shivakumar and Divya’s bodies in his car. Information given by the accused is that he took Puneeth and a girl child along with him during the journey as well.
The accused reached foothills of Chamundi Hill in Mysuru between 5 am and 6 am on October 27 where he disposed off Shivakumar and Divya’s bodies. After allegedly abandoning them, he reportedly returned home with Puneeth and girl.
This has raised several questions about how the boy was kept alive after his parents died. Investigators are now looking into the movements of the accused during those four days (places visited; reasons for keeping boy with him). Police are also working to verify timeline using evidence available and other investigative findings.
One of the most heartbreaking details so far is why Puneeth was kept alive in the first place. According to the information given by the accused Indushekhar did not kill Puneeth right away as he wanted someone to be there to answer phone calls. The accused had kept the child with him so that when calls came they could be answered.
On October 29 at about 3 pm Indushekhar allegedly murdered seven year old Puneeth and then later that night at around 1.11 am on October 30 disposed of the child’s body near Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapur district. Police recovered the boy’s body later.
The sequence of events alleged to have taken place has further increased public outrage because of the young victim’s vulnerability and circumstances in which he reportedly spent his last days. Police are still investigating the exact circumstances of the child’s death and verifying statements made by accused.
Two more bodies were recovered near Chamundi Hill taking the number of recovered bodies in the seven-member family murder case to five. Shivakumar and Divya’s bodies were found in Mysuru as per information given by accused during questioning. Puneeth (7) body was found near Nandi Hills, Sunita and Roopavathi bodies were found in Salem (Tamil Nadu).
With 5 victims now recovered only Shankar and Nalini’s bodies are missing. Indushekhar had told police that their bodies were disposed off in Shiradi Ghat region. Police teams intensified search operation in area where remaining victims may be hiding.
Difficult terrain and dense vegetation in some parts of Western Ghats made search operation difficult. Investigators are looking at locations identified by accused while recovering the remaining bodies.
As the investigation continues family members are making arrangements to perform last rites of four recovered victims at one place in Bengaluru. Harishchandra Ghat is being prepared for the final rituals reportedly. Sunita and Roopavathi bodies are being sent for post-mortem examination in Salem while Shivakumar and Divya’s body will be sent for post-mortem examination in Mysuru.
After medical and legal formalities are over, the bodies of the four will be transported by evening to Bengaluru. Puneeth’s last rites have already been performed after his body was recovered and post-mortem examination completed at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. The families are now preparing to bid farewell to other victims together amid grief and uncertainty.
Rajajinagar police are still investigating the alleged murders and Indushekhar will be questioned again to find out more about the crime. They are trying to figure out what may have motivated them, in which order they killed him, how their bodies were disposed of and where the accused moved between Bengaluru, Mysuru, Salem etc. Recovery of five bodies is a big step but Shankar and Nalini are major priority.
Police should also verify the accused’s statements with forensic evidence, postmortem findings and other records available. That seven-year old Puneeth was allegedly alive for four days after his parents were murdered has made the case more horrific. While police investigate further the families of victims wait for answers and the remaining two bodies.
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