A chilling event is echoing through Bengaluru as a woman was brutally murdered at home, and a paralyzed husband simply sat by in terror. This gruesome crime commenced early Thursday, forcing local news outlets onto an extraordinary security hole in what is already widely regarded as a quiet residential area.
The Horrific Incident
Vimala (54) shares a ground floor apartment in North Bengaluru, with her husband, Srinivas. Srinivas has been bedridden and paralysed for three years. Initial reports from the police indicated that the attackers went into the home through a rear window which had been partially left partially open for air.
The couple’s bedroom was slept and two or three men entered by themselves. At the time of the couple’s overnight journey they entered, they were believed to have first passed through it. When Vimala awakened and went to set an alarm it was overpowered by the robbers.
A Witness to Horror
For all we learned during that day, Srinivas stayed awake all through, even though both the investigators and the neighbors were heartbroken. Paralysed, he could not move or even speak to save his wife, let alone call for help. He was helpless while attackers pinned Vimala and slit her throat with a kitchen knife. Then the assailants searched the home, looting gold jewellery that was worth ₹5 lakhs and ₹50,000 in cash before running. Vimala allegedly bled to death within a few minutes; she could not pick up a phone or summon help.
Investigators Investigate and Discover
Only hours later, after the couple’s domestic assistant entered the house to find it unlocked and unkempt in the morning, the crime was discovered. After entering the bedroom, she found Vimala and a traumatized, non-verbal Srinivas. Some forensic personnel arrived, along with the Bengaluru City Police and a dog squad attached to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North).
- Forensic evidence: Fingerprints discovered near the sides of the windows and among the bedroom cupboards.
- CCTV Footage: Police are trying to piece together how the suspects got out by watching footage of neighboring homes and a nearby ATM.
- Motive: Robbery seems to be the main motive, though police are checking out whether anyone who knows the family has any information about how vulnerable the couple is.
A Community in Fear
Vimala was a faithful caregiver, neighbors said, spending her days taking care of her sick husband. The brutality of the crime having murdered a woman in front of her disabled spouse has engendered widespread outrage throughout the city. Residents like them are demanding that police will enforce tougher policing and ensure the safety of seniors and at-risk couples. Srinivas has already been treated and moved to a local hospital which is in the midst of treating him for severe shock and psychological trauma.
