Puttur: Woman found dead in ditch was murdered, accused arrested
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)
Puttur, May 15: The police have found that Girija Poojary (65), whose body was found in a roadside ditch on Monday May 13 evening some distance away from her residence in Hannimar in Keyyur village in the taluk, had not died due to epileptic seizures or accidental slipping as thought earlier. She was murdered for gain, they have claimed.
Girija, after separation from her husband, had begun staying in the home of her brother, the late Kantappa Poojary in Keyyur. She eked out a living by rolling bidis.
Ananthesh, a neighbour of the deceased woman, has been arrested in this connection. He has been accused of following Girija Poojary when she was returning home after visiting the local bidi branch, and murdering her by hitting her head with a wooden club. He also has been charged with snatching away a chain Girija was wearing, as he had thought that it was made of gold. But the chain was made of artificial material resembling gold, it has transpired.
Ananthesh was facing acute financial crisis. He had observed that Girija, who was old and feeble, used to visit the bidi branch at the same time every day, and that there was a chain around her neck. She also wore ear rings and a nose-ring.
On Monday evening, he followed Girija Poojary, who was alone, hit her head with a wooden club near the hillock covered with rubber trees, and decamped with the chain. The locals had seen him waiting for someone at the spot, but had not grown suspicious of his motives. After Girija’s body was found in a ditch at the spot, they suspected that something was fishy. They expressed their doubt to the police, who in turn arrested Ananthesh.
Rural police circle inspector, Suresh Kumar, said that the accused would be presented in the court today.