The Hindu : Karnataka News : Constable shoots wife, attempts suicide

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Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Constable shoots wife, attempts suicide

Staff Correspondent

She dies on the way to hospital; mother also hospitalised

MYSORE: A constable attached to the District Armed Reserve (DAR) shot his wife to death at his house in the police quarters at Jyothinagar in Nazarabad police station limits here on Monday. He later attempted to commit suicide by setting himself ablaze and suffered serious burns.

According to the police, Lokesh fired at his wife, Sudha, with a sten gun around 8.30 a.m. and later attempted to immolate himself. Tayavva, his mother, who had come from Chamarajnagar for medical treatment, also suffered minor burns on her hands when she went to save him.

Lokesh suffered 80 per cent burns and is admitted to the intensive care unit of BGS Apollo Hospital; his mother is recuperating at JSS Hospital. His condition is critical, the police said. Sudha died on the way to hospital.

Talking to The Hindu, Superintendent of Police Rama Subba said Lokesh, who was on VIP escort duty, went to the office of DAR located close to his house to collect the weapon.

He was supposed to visit the Control Room and report for escort duty. Instead, he went to his house and shot his wife using the weapon.

“He later doused himself with kerosene and set himself ablaze. Lokesh was a well-mannered policeman and punctual in his work. We have learnt that domestic problems could have driven him to take the extreme step of killing his wife and then attempting to end his life. The police will investigate the case to find out the truth,” said Mr. Subba.

Lokesh’s daughter, Tejaswi, had gone out to bring milk when the incident took place. When she returned, she found the door locked and saw smoke inside the house. She raised an alarm and neighbours rushed to the spot only to see the tragedy through a window.

They broke open the door and rushed Sudha, who was lying in a pool of blood, to hospital. Lokesh who was in flames and Tayavva, who had lost consciousness, were also taken to hospital.

When senior police officials rushed to the spot, they found the weapon lying in a corner of the house near an LPG cylinder.

A case has been registered on the complaint of the victim’s family.

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