Suicide pact fallout: Relatives and villagers stage protest at mortuary

A day after three members of a family committed suicide in Kempayyanahundi village near here, relatives and villagers gathered outside the morgue at the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) building in the city on Tuesday and demanded strict action against the accused, who was arrested by the police.

Her name is Shivanna (54), her husband Nagarathna (44) and their daughter Rakshita (22) were found dead in their village house on Monday after they allegedly drank poison before accusing Ullas Gowda, also a resident of the village, of abetting suicide in a death note seized by the police.

Registering a case, T. Narsipura police arrested Ullas Gowda when he was reportedly trying to escape to Bengaluru. The accused, who was in love with Rakshita, opposed her marrying another boy to whom he was engaged. He had allegedly sent his photos with Rakshita to the prospective groom, causing pain in his family.

Relatives and residents of the village, who refused to allow the bodies to be transported for autopsy on Monday, gathered in front of the morgue on Tuesday and demanded that the property belonging to the defendant be seized and transferred to the relatives of the deceased family.

Meanwhile, former Ministers SR Mahesh of Janata Dal (Secular) and C. Puttarangashetty of Congress visited the morgue and consoled the relatives of the deceased.

Meanwhile, the protesters demanded that Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah also visit the area as the village falls in the Varuna Assembly constituency represented by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

However, Mr. Mahesh and Mr. Puttarangashetty ensured that justice was provided to the family members of the deceased.

After the autopsy, the bodies were taken to the village by ambulance accompanied by police teams.

(People with suicidal tendencies can seek help by calling the Arogya Sahayavani helpline at 104)