Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 23: A woman who went missing about 10 days ago was found allegedly murdered at Shuntilapadavu, Niddodi near Moodbidri on Saturday January 23. One person has been arrested in the case.

Revati Poojarti (46), a resident of Yamala, Niddodi had gone missing on January 14. She had left from home, informing her aunt that she was going to Niddodi town, but did not return. Her neighbour Shekar Shetty (48) has been arrested in this connection.

Revati's brother, who works as a tailor in Shuntilapadavu, expressed suspicions about one Shekar Shetty, and filed a complaint with the police stating that Shekar had taken Revati's gold ornaments to obtain loan from the bank.

The police called Shekar for interrogation, during which he admitted that he had taken gold loan on Revati's ornaments, but added that from the amount obtained, he had transferred Rs 30,000 to her as she had to pay off a group loan.

Shekar also claimed that he had nothing to do with Revati's sudden disappearance, after which the police let him off. However, the locals warned that if the police failed to solve the case, a massive protest would be held in front of the police station.

On Friday January 22, the Moodbidri again took custody of Shekar and subjected him to interrogation. It was then that Shekar reportedly admitted to have murdered Revati.

As per sources, Shekar told the police that Revati used to pester him to return her gold ornaments. Seeing no other way to shrug her off, he asked her to come to a wooded area saying that he would give her money to release the gold, and when she came, he allegedly strangled her to death with a rope.

Meanwhile, the local women who heard of Shekar's arrest demanded that his family members come to the spot and have a look at Revati's body to understand what Shekar had done. They threatened that until his family members came, they would not allow anyone to move Revati's body.

The protestors blocked the police jeep and sat on dharna. A few villagers then intervened and resolved the matter, and the situation returned to normalcy.

Revati was a widow and leaves behind a 10-year-old son, who is presently in the care of a relative. Revati's husband passed away about four years ago.

Moodbidri police have registered a case and further investigations are on.