Mangalore: Doctor, Nurse, Three Others Arrested for Bantwal Woman's Death
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Sep 22: Five persons have been arrested in connection with the mysterious death of Leelavathi (34), whose body was found on September 6 on a roadside at Mukkuda, Neerapalke, Panjikallu village in Bantwal. She was the daughter of Gopal Poojary, and resident of Bantwal's Kasaba village .
The arrested have been indentified as Bhaskar Poojary, Leelavathi’s cousin, Leela Karkera and Bharathi Belchad, staff of MINSA Hospital, Kankanady, Dr Hanumantha Rao, doctor of Aditya Clinic, Bantwal and retired government medical officer, and Lakshman Poojary, a resident of Kumbarabettu House, Panjikallu.
This was revealed by SP Abhishek Goyal at a press meet here on Friday September 22.
Elaborating on the events that led to Leelavathi's death, the SP said that Leelavathi had informed her brother Shekar Poojary about her visit to their granny’s house in Panjikallu on September 5 evening, but her body was found the next day morning on the road side, on the way to her granny’s house.
The information about this incident was given to Shekar Poojary by his cousin Bhaskar Poojary. The Bantwal police had registered it as a case of mysterious death, as per the complaint lodged by Leelavathi's brother Shekar.
Curiosity arose among the public as well as the police after it was discovered that her sandals and mobile were missing. The forensic department was called to the spot and a search for missing items went on in full swing.
The autopsy of the body was conducted at K S Hegde Medical College, Deralakatte. As the investigation progressed, it was found that Leelavathi had gone in an auto rickshaw up to Bhami junction and then to Minsa Hospital with a person, who was later identified by the police as none other than her cousin Bhaskar Poojary.
Bhaskar had informed that he did not notice the body while driving his lorry the same way, but on returning, due to heavy pain on his leg, he noticed it. However, the police did not buy his statement and came to the conclusion that he was hiding the truth.
After taking Bhaskar into police custody and interrogating him, it came to light that he was involved in the death of his cousin.
It was further revealed that Bhaskar, a married man, had an illicit affair and sexual relationship with Leelavathi and had wanted her to go for an abortion. He had taken her to Dr Hanumantha Rao, but as his medication failed, he took her to Minsa hospital on Dr Rao's recommendation.
The doctor had called a nurse, identified as Leela of Minsa Hospital, and made all arrangements for Leelavathi's abortion, after which he sent them to the hospital. As per Dr Rao's instructions, Bhaskar dropped her at the hospital, and met Leela and another hospital staff Bharathi. He paid Rs 6,000 to Leela including the doctor's commission and left, promising to return the next morning.
Leela and Bharathi, without any official permission, took Leelavathi to the labour ward and did the abortion. While Leela left after her day's work, Bharathi slept in the hospital as usual. Late in the night Leelavathi started to bleed and yell, and alarmed by this, Bharathi informed Leela. However, before Leela could reach the hospital, Leelavathi, who had aborted in the fifth month of her pregnancy, passed away due to excessive bleeding.
When Leela informed Bhaskar about the woman's death, he took the help of his friend Lakshman Poojary, an auto driver. Leela and Bharathi dressed the body and sent it away in the auto, but forgot about Leelavathi's mobile phone and sandals. These items remained with Leela.
Bhaskar and Lakshman threw the body on the roadside near Panjikallu, at a spot where Bhaskar would usually wash his lorry. He later visited the spot in his lorry, and then with his bike he went around informing the others about the body he had 'found'.
Bhaskar Poojary was arrested near Loretto Padavu on September 18 at 11 am, and his bike was taken into possesion. Later, as per the directions of SP Abhishek Goyal, the police visited Minsa Hospital and took his records and rounded up both Leela and Bharathi.
The Aditya Clinic was raided and Dr Hanumantha Roa arrested. Auto driver Lakshman Poojary and his auto were also taken into custody. All the five have been remanded in judicial custody.
As per Leelavathi's post-mortem reports, it was a dangerous abortion as the skull of the unborn baby had remained in the womb, which led to excessive bleeding.
Puttur additional SP M N Anuchethan was also present at the press meet.