An eight-year-old boy was brutally murdered by his mother’s suspected boyfriend in Rajanukunte early on Saturday and the woman quietly buried his body without informing the police.
The crime occurred at Vishwanathapura village where Ambika (32) was working at a construction site. A native of Gulbarga, she had migrated with her husband and two children. She became friends with Sharanappa (36), who also hails from Gulbarga. The police suspect they were in a relationship. Ambika then left her husband and moved to Rajanukunte along with her son Ramesh and daughter Lakshmi (4). Sharanappa used to demand money from her and frequently beat her up when she protested.
On Friday night again, an inebriated Sharanappa demanded Rs. 500 from Ambika and started beating her when she refused. Young Ramesh, who woke up, came to his mother’s rescue and Sharanappa, in a fit of rage, strangled him to death with a towel, the police said.
Later, Sharanappa managed to persuade Ambika to bury the body in an isolated place nearby. He fled after this and Ambika went back to her shed. However, their colleagues, who saw the two dig a pit, grew suspicious and called the police. Upon questioning, Ambika confessed to the murder and burial.
Deputy Superintendent of Police N. Nagraj told The Hindu they had sought the permission of the jurisdictional tahsildar to exhume the body. “We have taken up a murder case against Sharanappa and efforts are on to nab him,” he said.
Crushed to death
A young employee of a private factory in Peenya was killed on the spot when a heavy metal sheet he was trying to lift fell on him.
V. Sampath (23), who had joined Volvo Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd. just a few days ago, was crushed by a 150-kg metal sheet. The grievously injured Sampath was rushed to Kirloskar hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Peenya police arrested five persons, including the managers and supervisor, for negligence leading to the death.
Sampath was the only son to his parents, the police said.