Stephen Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (MS)
Kasargod, Jan 24: Crime branch police arrested two people, including the colleague of Roopashree (44), teacher of Miyapadav higher secondary school, in connection with her murder case.
The arrested are identified as drawing teacher of the same school Venkataramana Karanatha (50) and car driver Niranjan.
Roopashree went missing since the evening of January 14. Her body was found on the beach at Peruvadu near Kumble on January 16. Manjeshwar police registered a case of unnatural death. However, family members of Roopashree alleged that she was murdered. Various associations and public also held protest in this regard. The case was handed over to crime branch owing to public pressure. The crime branch police were able to crack the case and arrest the culprit with 72 hours of taking up the case.
Roopashree (left) and Venkataramana
Venkataramana, who was teaching in the same school as that of the deceased, is the person who had done this act. He had called Roopashree to his house on January 14 and killed her by immersing her face in bucket filled with water. Later he took the dead body of Roopashree in a car, with the help of Niranjan, and threw the same near Kanwatheertha beach in Manjeshwar.
Forensic experts of Crime branch police recovered strand of Roopashree's hair in the car during the forensic check of Venkataramana's house and car. When they subjected Venkataramana to intensive interrogation, he confessed to the crime.
It is said that Roopashree and Venkataramana were in love. The police have also got information that they had financial and other dealings. Of late, this relation and other dealings had become a burden for Roopashree. So she had some rift with accused Venkataramana since some time. This information is unearthed by the crime branch police during the preliminary investigation. But the chief of the investigation team is of the opinion that more intense questioning will reveal the exact motive for the murder.