Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)
Beltangady, Aug 25: The police have arrested a son-in-law and a grandson in connection with the murder of retired teacher Balakrishna Badekillaya (83) of Belalu.
Muralikrishna (21), who works as an assistant priest and is the grandson of Balakrishna, and his father, Raghavendra V Kedilaya (58), an agriculturist and astrologer by profession in Mulleria of Kasargod and the son-in-law of the deceased, have been arrested.
Balakrishna was murdered in the yard of his house with a machete on August 20. It is reported that the deceased, Balakrishna, had not given the gold ornaments of his late wife, retired teacher U Leela (75), who passed away four years ago, to their daughter Vijayalaxmi, the wife of the accused Raghavendra. Additionally, Balakrishna had not given her a share of the property. Due to these reasons, Raghavendra and his son Muralikrishna are said to have planned to eliminate Balakrishna.
Both accused, father and son, traveled from their home in Kasargod on a scooter, carrying a machete. On the day of the incident, Balakrishna's younger son Suresh Bhat served him tea and then left for Puttur to work. Balakrishna, pleased with the visit from his grandson and son-in-law, served them food. Muralikrishna then approached Balakrishna from behind and slit his throat. When Balakrishna attempted to escape and ran to the yard, both father and son repeatedly struck him with the machete.
Slain headmaster's younger son also was target of murderers
It is reported that the secrets behind the murder were revealed after the Dharmasthala police went to the house in Kasargod and took the accused into custody. The accused had also planned to kill Balakrishna Badekillaya's younger son, Suresh Bhat, and after murdering Balakrishna, they waited at the house for some time for Suresh Bhat to arrive. However, when he did not show up, the killers took two bond papers worth Rs 50,000 each and some documents from the cupboard and fled on a scooter back to their house the way they came, according to the police interrogation of the accused.
Retired teacher Balakrishna Badekillaya and his late wife Leela were parents to three children. The eldest son, Harish Bhat, is employed in Bengaluru. Their second child, a daughter named Vijayalakshmi (49), was married 22 years ago to Raghavendra Kedilaya (53), an agriculturist and astrologer from Mulleria in Kasargod district, Kerala. The couple has two children: the first is Muralikrishna (20), who is accused in the murder case, and the other is a daughter who is currently pursuing her PUC (Pre-University Course). The youngest son, Suresh Bhat (48), is unmarried and works for Reliance in Puttur.
Vijayalaxmi was unaware of her husband and son’s involvement in the murder of her father. She only learned of their actions when Dharmasthala police arrived at her home and took both accused into custody.
A canine squad from Mangaluru arrived at the crime scene soon after the murder. The dog traced a path to the well where a plantain leaf, used after their meal, had been discarded and then moved towards the road. This provided the police with their first clue. They collected the mobile numbers of all family members and conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of the son-in-law and grandson of the deceased.
Vijayalaxmi and her husband Raghavendra had come to Belalu to view the mortal remains of Balakrishna Badekillaya on the afternoon of August 21. However, their son, Muralikrishna, the grandson of the deceased, did not visit his grandfather's house.
The operation to arrest the accused was conducted under the direction of district SP Yathish. The team included DySP Vijayaprasad, Beltangady CI Nagesh Kadri, and Dharmasthala SIs Kishore and Samarth Ganigera.