Bantwal: Elderly Woman Commits Suicide, Two Sons Follow Suit

Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Nov 11: In a tragic incident, an elderly woman and her two middle-aged sons allegedly committed suicide by hanging in Kolnad here on Sunday November 11.

The deceased have been identified as Leela (60), wife of Poovappa Shettigar, a resident of Netla Chanila, Goltamajal here, and sons Janardhan (42) and Chinnappa (40).

It is said that Leela had been missing since Saturday November 10 morning. Her husband Poovappa, the two sons and neighbours began a search operation but till Sunday morning could not locate her.

However, by afternoon, even the sons went missing. The worried family members and neighbours, with no clue as to what had happened, suspended the search operation. Some of them, however, continued their search and by 7 pm, stumbled upon the bodies at a deserted place at some distance away from the house. The bodies were found hanging from a tree.

It is suspected that the sons who were searching for their missing mother ended their lives too on finding her dead.

The reason for the mother taking the extreme step is still unknown. She is said to have hanged herself on Saturday.

A pall of gloom has descended on the neighbourhood which had been gearing up to celebrate Diwali on Monday November 12. Hundreds of people visited Poovappa's house to pay their last respects.

Poovappa and Leela had four sons and two daughters, among whom one of the children died some years back. Janardhan was married to Vedavati of Siddakatte, Udupi, while Chinnappa was unmarried.

While their house falls under the limits of Bantwal town police, the spot where the bodies were found falls under the limits of Vittal police. Police personnel of both police stations arrived at the spot and Vittal police registered the case.