Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 29: In a barbaric act which appears to have been committed a couple of days back, a couple living at Ashwathanagara near Marathahalli here was found to have been stabbed to death. It has also been found that the killers also tried to set off LPG cylinder blast towards demolishing the entire house. But this plan apparently failed to materialize.

Govindan (75), a retired employee of Bharat Electronics Ltd, and his wife, Sarojamma (62), were the ones whose lives were lost in this incident. The murders came to light at 10 pm after the couple's daughter visited the house, said city police commissioner, T Sunil Kumar.

The couple has left behind daughter, Usha, and a son. One of their two sons had died sometime back, and the other is living somewhere else. Usha, who had earlier settled in Hosur, had recently shifted to HAL Layout here.

Govindan and his wife were staying in their own house at Ashwathanagara since the last three decades. They stayed in the ground floor and had rented out the first floor.

The killers who gained entry into the couple's house, killed the aged couple. After the people staying in the neighbourhood experienced smell of LPG emanating from this house on Tuesday night, they conveyed information to Usha. Usha came home immediately and found out that her parents were no more, things had been strewn around, and valuables had been burgled. The killers had cut the LPG pipe to let out the gas. The police said that they are yet to zero in on the actual purpose of killing, but added that there is suspicion about involvement of people close to the couple.

Usha stated that she had met her parents on Sunday and they had told her about their plan to visit a relative. So she said she did not visit them again. She came to know about the murder after visiting the home on Tuesday night on receipt of phone call from neighbour.

Govindan owned a house site in Whitefield, which was mired in disputes. The police are yet to find out whether this murder was committed in relation to this dispute or whether people who came in for robbery killed the couple. Investigation from all angles is being taken up, the police officers said.

City crime branch joint commissioner, Sathish Kumar, and deputy commissioner of police of Whitefield subdivision, Abdul Ahad, visited the spot and guided investigation. Sniffer dogs and finger print experts too got involved with the investigation. Ahad said that a special team has been formed to investigate this murder, and footage of various CCTV cameras is being pooled together. A case of murder stands registered in HAL police station.