R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala
Karkala, Apr 27: Three persons - a Sri Rama Sene leader and two women - have been arrested in connection to the death of a married woman at Kantavar near here on Thursday April 27.
The arrested are Sri Rama Sene leader Roshan Kotian Irvathur, and Bharati and Shobha, wives of the deceased woman's brothers-in-law.
Surekha (28), daughter of Sanjeeva Suvarna, a resident of Kotebagilu, Moodbidri, and wife of Kantavar resident Prakash, was found hanging under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday April 25 afternoon near her house in Kantavar. She was taken to a hospital in Moodbidri but breathed her last on the way.
Surekha
Accused Roshan Kotian
Surekha got married to Prakash about five years ago, and had a son who is now four years old. Prakash works in auto rickshaw sales in Mangaluru.
Though initially her death was treated as an act of willful suicide, Surekha's brother Suresh had expressed suspicions of foul play and filed a complaint in this regard in the rural police station.
Sources say that it is almost certain that Surekha was forced to commit suicide by people who posed her death threats and abetted her suicide.
Meanwhile, there were talks among the locals that Prakash's family were involved in Surekha's death. Based on allegations that Prakash's two brothers' wives Bharati and Shobha had been behaving insolently with Surekha, the police took the accused into custody for questioning.
It is said that Surekha was witness to illicit affairs going on in her husband's house. Surekha spoke about it to her husband, it said. Meanwhile, accused Roshan Kotian who was allegedly involved in the affairs came to know about this, and allegedly threatened Surekha on phone that if she were to reveal the matter, he would kill her husband, child and her.
Surekha revealed this information in her death note too, it is learnt. The police have also taken possession of her mobile phone to check call records.
Roshan Kotian, besides being a Sri Rama Sene leader, and works as a local marketing representative of a mobile SIM company.
The arrest operation was led by circle inspector Joy Anthony.
A case of abetment to suicide has been registered against the accused. Further investigations are on.