SP Nemagouda stated that four family members were discovered deceased inside a residence near Channamma circle in Belgaum on Friday.
According to the police, the deceased individuals have been identified as Karthik (27), the son of Sunanda Bakale, the vice president of the Gadag-Betageri municipal corporation, along with his relatives Parushram (55), his wife Lakshmi (45), and their daughter Aakankasha (17). They hailed from Koppal district and had arrived in Gadag on April 17 to finalize Karthik’s wedding date, stated SP Nemagouda.
The incident occurred between 2 am and 3 am while the victims were asleep in two separate rooms on the first floor of Sunanda’s residence. The perpetrators purportedly carried out the killings and escaped the scene, leaving behind a sharp iron-made weapon in a nearby gutter, he added.
Nemagouda mentioned that Sunanda stated the culprits fled upon hearing the arrival of a police vehicle. Sunanda, who grew suspicious after hearing noises from the first floor, informed the police about the incident.
Nemagouda also stated that after Sunanda alerted the police, a team arrived at the scene and discovered the victims deceased in a pool of blood with approximately eight to ten injuries, including wounds to the neck. Upon examining the injuries, the police suspected that sharp knives were employed in the crime. They are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the roads leading to Sunanda’s house and neighboring residences.
Nemagouda mentioned that it is probable that the perpetrators entered and exited through the roof.
Following an inspection at the location, Belgaum Division Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vikash Kumar Vikash stated that four teams have been dispatched to apprehend the culprits. He emphasized that due to the severity of the crime, the motive remains uncertain, and only the arrest of the perpetrators can provide clarity on the reason behind it. Additionally, they are interrogating Sunanda’s family members and relatives to determine the motive for the murder.
