In a horrific incident that has sent shockwaves through Bengaluru, a 40-year-old software engineer allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife on a busy street during Tuesday's evening rush hour. The accused, identified as Balamurugan, later walked into a police station with the weapon and surrendered.
A Calculated Attack in the Evening Rush
The chilling event unfolded around 6:30 pm on Tuesday on 1st Main Road in the Rajajinagar Industrial Area, a typically crowded locality. Preliminary police investigations indicate that Balamurugan fired four rounds at close range. Two bullets struck the victim, 39-year-old Bhuvaneshwari, on the head, while the other two hit her hand. She succumbed to her injuries on the spot.
Roots in Prolonged Marital Strife
The tragic shooting was the violent culmination of over a year of marital discord. Balamurugan and Bhuvaneshwari, both natives of Salem district in Tamil Nadu, had married in 2011. However, frequent quarrels led them to live separately for approximately one-and-a-half years. Bhuvaneshwari, an assistant manager at Union Bank of India's Basaveshwaranagar branch, had been living in a rented house in Rajajinagar with the couple's two children—a 12-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter. Balamurugan was residing separately and working in Whitefield.
Police revealed that the accused suspected his wife of having an extra-marital affair, though this claim remains unsubstantiated. The situation escalated when Bhuvaneshwari sought legal separation, a move Balamurugan was unwilling to accept. Six months ago, after her transfer from the Whitefield branch, she moved to a new rented house with her children without informing her husband.
The Final Straw and a Fatal Plan
Balamurugan traced her new address about four months ago and, in a disturbing turn, allegedly quit his IT job and shifted to Cholurpalya in Kempapura Agrahara to stay closer to her. The final trigger, according to investigators, came about a week ago when Balamurugan reportedly received a divorce notice from Bhuvaneshwari. Enraged by this, he allegedly made the fatal decision to kill her.
The brazen nature of the crime—committed in a public area during peak hours—and the accused's subsequent surrender have left the city reeling. The case underscores the deadly potential of unresolved domestic disputes and the urgent need for effective intervention in marital conflicts.
