In a horrific incident stemming from a troubled marriage, a software engineer allegedly executed his estranged wife in broad daylight on a congested Bengaluru street before turning himself in to the authorities. The event has sent shockwaves through the city's Rajajinagar area.
The Fatal Evening in Rajajinagar
The tragedy unfolded during the evening rush hour on Tuesday, around 6:30 pm, on 1st Main Road in the Rajajinagar Industrial Area. According to police, the accused, Balamurugan (40), a professional from a private IT firm, confronted his wife, Bhuvaneshwari (39), an assistant manager at Union Bank of India's Basaveshwaranagar branch. In a brazen attack, he fired multiple shots at close range.
Preliminary investigations indicate that four rounds were fired. Two bullets struck Bhuvaneshwari on the head, while the other two hit her left hand, leading to fatal injuries. The sudden gunfire caused panic among hundreds of commuters and pedestrians, who scrambled for safety. Passersby discovered the victim lying in a pool of blood and immediately alerted the police. She was rushed to a private hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
A Marriage in Ruins and a Deadly Escalation
Both Balamurugan and Bhuvaneshwari were natives of Salem district in Tamil Nadu and had been married since 2011. However, their relationship was marred by frequent quarrels, leading them to live separately for approximately 1.5 years. Bhuvaneshwari had been residing 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 living and working separately in Whitefield.
Police revealed that Bhuvaneshwari had sought legal separation, a move Balamurugan resisted. The situation intensified about six months ago when she was transferred from the Whitefield branch and moved to a new rented home with the children without informing her husband. Four months ago, after allegedly tracking her down, Balamurugan quit his IT job and shifted to Cholurpalya in Kempapura Agrahara to be closer to her.
The final trigger came about a week ago when Balamurugan received a divorce notice from Bhuvaneshwari. Enraged, he reportedly decided to kill her. On Tuesday evening, he spotted her returning from work near the Basaveshwaranagar police station and carried out the shooting. Police noted that the accused suspected his wife of having an affair, though this claim remains unverified.
Surrender and Investigation
Following the shooting, Balamurugan walked into a police station with the pistol and surrendered. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) S Girish confirmed that the weapon was seized and that authorities are verifying whether it was licensed. While the accused claimed to have fired five rounds, police recovered only four empty cartridges from the crime scene.
The police have informed Bhuvaneshwari's parents in Tamil Nadu. The case highlights the extreme and tragic consequences of unresolved marital disputes and domestic discord.
