The Hindu : Karnataka News : Old couple done to death in Tumkur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Old couple done to death in Tumkur

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR, SEPT. 13. M. Chickannaiappa (76), who had retired as chief engineer in Government service, and his wife, Lalitha (68), were found murdered in their house at Mahalakshmi Nagar on National Highway No. 4 here this afternoon. The police suspect that their former servant committed the murder.

Mahadevappa, the family doctor of the couple, who went to the house around 1.30 p.m., found the doors open and the body of Lalitha that had been set on fire. He alerted the fire station, adjacent to the house, and called the neighbours for help. The body of Chickannaiappa was later found half burnt behind the house.

According to Mr. Mahadevappa, Lalitha visited his clinic at Ashoknagar a while before he went to their house, for treatment for minor bruises. He noticed that she was tense. On enquiry, she told him that Chickaraju, whom the couple had removed from service three months ago, had pushed her down when she noticed him hiding in the house, and her husband was at home with him.

The doctor said he was worried when Lalitha returned home in a hurry, and decided to visit the house. The police said Chickaraju had lost his job in a private bank that he got with the help of the couple. Kerosene had been poured on the bodies before they were set on fire. However, only the clothes were burnt before the firemen doused the fire.

Sources in a private cooperative bank said Lalitha had visited the bank and withdrawn money and took jewellery from the locker after visiting the doctor.

P. Muniswamy, Superintendent of Police, led the preliminary investigation.

Squads formed

Mr. Muniswamy said three high-level police squads had been formed to investigate the murders. Chickannaiappa was the Principal of Siddaganga Institute of Technology in its formative years, on deputation from the Government. He headed the governing council of the Shridevi Institute of Engineering and Technology.

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