Four members of a family were found dead in a house near Jeppu Market in Mangaluru on December 8.
The police gave their names as Nagesh Shiraguppi, 30, his wife Vijayalakshmi, 26, and their children Sapna, 8, and Samarth, 4. The family hails from Sunag village in Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district.
The police said around 10.30 a.m. the Assistant Sub Inspector of Mangaluru South police station received a voice message from a person accusing a woman from Bejai of attempting to convert his wife, and holding that woman responsible for the death of his family members. The caller also sent an image of a note where he had reiterated the same.
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The police traced the message to Nagesh, who worked as a truck driver and did other sundry jobs for his employer who operates a stone quarry. Vijayalakshmi did domestic chores in houses in the neighbourhood.
The family stayed in the old house of the stone quarry operator.
As police reached the house, the quarry owner too arrived after hearing that the family had not come out of the house since morning.
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Nagesh was found hanging from the ceiling while the body of Vijayalaxmi was found on the cot. The police found blood stains on the mattress and the pillow. Their two children appeared to have died after consumption of food that was laced with poison, on December 7 night. The family had moved into the house in November, police said.
Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar said Vijayalakshmi had left the house in October following an argument with Nagesh and shifted to the house of a woman in Bejai. Nagesh had filed a missing complaint.
Vijayalakshmi appeared in the Woman Police Station a few days later and said she was going back to live with Nagesh as he had promised to take good care of her.
On the basis of the note shared by Nagesh, Mr. Kumar said the Mangaluru South Police had suo motu registered a case under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment to suicide) against the woman from Bejai and she has been taken into custody.
( Those under distress and having suicidal tendency can contact Arogya Sahayavani on 104 or the mental health helpline 080-46110007 )