Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)
Sullia, Jan 29: The mortal remains of Nagappa Gowda (57), who had absconded after killing his daughter-in-law on June 14, 2014 at Uppukala in Kollamogru gram panchayat limits near Subrahmanya were found from Anekalpu in Kotnadka-Uppukala forest area on the evening of Wednesday January 28.
Gowda had escaped from his home after killing his daughter-in-law, Vidya, with his gun after heated arguments over property rights. Nagappa, who lived alone away from family members, and was already known for his aggressive behaviour and intimidating attitude, had escaped from police net all these months. Although there had been stray reports of people from some villages bordering forests sighting him, the police had been unable to find him.
Two people who had gone into the forest to search for their missing cow on Wednesday evening found some bones, skull, clothes, and a gun about a km away from Uppukala. The villagers confirmed the skeletal remains, clothes and gun to be belonging to Nagappa Gowda.
During the last eight months, policemen, assisted by personnel of Anti Naxal Force, had searched various places including forest regions like Kandadi Male, Hosamale, Siddanagudde, Ambatakaje etc in search of Gowda but with no success.
Nagappa was a well-known sharp-shooter as far as hunting was concerned. It is felt that Nagappa would have died either out of hunger or he would have committed suicide. Investigations alone can throw more light on these aspects.
A lady had seen Gowda entering the forest a day after the murder of Vidya. Thereafter, the villagers had heard a couple of gunshots from the forest, and it had made them to worry about the intention of Gowda, particularly so because most people disliked him. In the meanwhile, the man had secretly tried to hide in the upper structure over the cattle shed of a relative in Kotnadka. A girl had screamed after seeing him sneaking in, after which Gowda had pointed his gun at her, threatened to shoot, and run away.
Subrahmanya police visited the spot and took steps to record the finding.