Pramesh S Jain
The Kumaraswamy layout police police have arrested a 25-year-old male nurse for allegedly murdering his colleague and lover,a woman 14 years his senior, following a heated argument over their relationship.
The incident,which occurred in Pragathipura area of Kumaraswamy Layout in south Bengaluru,came to light on December 23,sending shockwaves through the neighbourhood and the medical fraternity.
The accused has been identified as C Sudhakar (25),a male nurse employed at Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research.
The victim,Mamatha,aged around 39,was also a nurse at the same hospital.Both hailed from different parts of Karnataka and were known to each other professionally before their personal relationship developed.
Relationship turned sour:
Senior police official,told reporters Mamatha was a native of Hiriyur in Chitradurga district and was living in a rented house at Pragathipura along with a female colleague.
Over time,she became emotionally involved with Sudhakar,who was her junior colleague at the hospital.
Police said the relationship had continued for some time, but differences began to emerge recently after Sudhakar got engaged to another woman.
Mamatha reportedly opposed the engagement and insisted that Sudhakar marry her instead,leading to frequent quarrels between the two.
“The relationship had become strained in recent weeks. There were repeated arguments,mainly after the accused got engaged elsewhere.This seems to have triggered the incident,” a senior police officer said.
Events leading to the murder
On Tuesday afternoon,December 23, Sudhakar visited Mamatha at her rented house in Kumaraswamy Layout. During the meeting,
Mamatha allegedly pressured him to break off his engagement and marry her.What began as a verbal disagreement soon escalated into a heated argument.
In a fit of rage,Sudhakar allegedly picked up a kitchen knife lying in the house and slit Mamatha’s throat,killing her on the spot. Police said the attack was brutal and left no chance for the victim to survive.
After committing the crime,Sudhakar allegedly attempted to mislead investigators by making the murder appear like a case of robbery.
He reportedly removed Mamatha’s gold chain before fleeing the scene. A broken piece of the chain was later found at the crime scene, which raised suspicions during the initial investigation.
Body discovered a day later
The murder remained undiscovered until the next evening.Mamatha’s family members, who were unable to reach her over the phone for several hours,grew worried and contacted the landlord,requesting him to check on her.
Using a spare key,the landlord entered the house and found Mamatha lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom. Shocked by the scene,he immediately alerted the police.
A police team rushed to the spot, inspected the scene of crime, and secured the area.The body was later shifted to a government hospital for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death and time of the incident.
Arrest and confession
Based on preliminary evidence,CCTV footage from nearby areas,and technical inputs,the police zeroed in on Sudhakar as the prime suspect.He was arrested shortly after the incident came to light.
During interrogation,Sudhakar allegedly confessed to the crime, admitting that he lost control during the argument. Police also recovered the gold chain allegedly taken from the victim,further strengthening the case against him.
A case of murder has been registered at the Kumaraswamy Layout police station based on a complaint lodged by Mamatha’s brother, Shankar.
Police said further investigation is under way to collect additional evidence and record statements of witnesses, including colleagues and neighbours.
Impact and police caution
The incident has caused concern among residents of the area and staff at Jayadeva Hospital, where both the accused and the victim worked.
Colleagues described Mamatha as dedicated and hardworking, expressing shock at the violent end to her life.
Police officials have reiterated the need for timely intervention in cases involving personal disputes that show signs of escalation.
“Relationship-related crimes often occur due to emotional stress and lack of conflict resolution. Seeking counselling and support can prevent such tragic outcomes,” an officer said.
Love angle and frequent fights
South Division DCP,Lokesh B Jagalasar said Sudhakar was also employed as a male nurse at Jayadeva Hospital, where Mamta worked.The two became acquainted about a year ago and later developed a relationship.
According to the police, Mamta had recently been pressuring Sudhakar to marry her. However, Sudhakar had got engaged to another woman, which led to frequent arguments between the two.
On the night between December 24 and 25, a heated argument broke out at Mamta’s house. During the altercation, Sudhakar allegedly slit her throat with a kitchen knife, killing her on the spot.
Police said the accused has been arrested, and further investigation is underway.
