A wave of shock and fear is reverberating through Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district after the suspicious death of a young, high-profile civil contractor was found yesterday. Pawan (27) was found dead after four days of search and rescue in the Cauvery River as a Hunsanahalli resident and Class-1 contractor with previous experience in the district.
The Mysterious Disappearance
Pawan was a rising figure in the local construction industry, handling projects worth crores of rupees. Pawan left his home four days ago and told his family he was going to do urgent work and would not return for the night. It was the last time his voice was heard, said his family.
Pawan didn’t show up the next day and the family’s concern grew. His mobile phone had been switched off and most alarmingly, his social media accounts had been deactivated in the same instant. The family contacted the local police to report a missing person.
Discovery of the body and murder charges. The search ended tragically when local residents found a body floating in the Cauvery River in Srirangapatna taluk. Pawan was identified once he was recovered. The initial investigation has only stirred up the mystery; relatives and friends had seen injury marks on the corpse and they are convinced this was not an accident or a suicide.
The family has expressed suspicions of foul play; Pawan could have been murdered due to professional rivalries or financial troubles on his high-value contracts. The disappearance of Pawan’s digital footprint just before his disappearance is seen as a calculated move by the victim under duress or by the perpetrators who wish to stall the search.
Investigation Underway
The Srirangapatna Police have registered a case and shifted the body for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause and time of death. Forensic experts will investigate whether the injuries on the body were sustained before or after entering the water.
Pawan’s recent phone records and financial affairs have also been under investigation by the police, the police said. As a Class-1 contractor who works on multi-crore government or private projects, “contractor-mafia” involvement or settlement disputes are the main focus of the investigation.
Unrest has erupted in the Hunsanahalli region and people want a quick and transparent investigation. Police are forced to shed light on the dark side behind the Cauvery as families grieve for a promising young professional.
