A shocking case in Bengaluru has turned from a suspected tragic accident into a chilling premeditated murder. A second-year pre-university student has been arrested for allegedly killing a 34-year-old software engineer and then setting her flat on fire in a calculated attempt to cover his tracks. The incident occurred earlier this month in the city's eastern suburb of Ramamurthynagar.
From Suspected Accident to Brutal Crime
The victim, Sharmila Kushalappa, a native of Mangaluru who worked with Accenture, lived alone in a rented flat in Subramanya Layout. On the night of January 3, at around 10:30 PM, the building owner alerted the fire department after noticing smoke billowing from her second-floor apartment.
Fire personnel broke open the locked door, doused the flames, and found Sharmila lying motionless near the kitchen. She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. Initial suspicion pointed towards death by smoke inhalation from the house fire.
However, the case took a decisive turn following forensic and postmortem findings. Injuries on Sharmila's hands and visible signs of a struggle at the scene had already raised police doubts. The autopsy revealed that the injuries were inflicted before the fire and were inconsistent with accidental burns. Medical opinion indicated she had been smothered.
The Arrest and Confession
With the new evidence, police narrowed their probe. Their investigation led them to Karnal Kurai K, an IInd-year PU student at a private college, hailing from Arasunagar in Virajpet town of Kodagu district. Karnal lived with his mother in the same building, right next door to Sharmila's flat.
After being detained for questioning, the accused reportedly confessed to the crime. According to police, Karnal entered Sharmila's flat through a sliding window at around 9 PM on January 3. When confronted, he expressed his desire towards her, which she firmly resisted, shouting at him to leave.
Enraged by the rejection, he allegedly held her mouth and nose shut, causing her to lose consciousness. Bloodstains from her mouth and nose were found on her clothes. In a cold-blooded move to destroy evidence, the accused allegedly removed the clothes, set them on fire, and escaped through the same window. The fire later spread to other parts of the flat.
Justice Sought for the Victim
Karnal Kurai K has been formally arrested and remanded to three days of police custody for further investigation. The Ramamurthynagar police had initially registered the case based on a complaint from Sharmila's friend, K Rohit, who suspected foul play after learning of her death.
This gruesome incident has sent shockwaves through the local community in Ramamurthynagar, highlighting grave concerns about safety. The police's shift from investigating an accidental fire to uncovering a brutal murder underscores the importance of thorough forensic examination in such cases.
