Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Feb 9: An elderly sculptor was found murdered by strangulation in Pilar, near Mudarangady, on the night of Sunday February 7. The assailant or assailants decamped with jewellery worth several thousands.
 
The deceased is 75-year-old Shivaram Acharya, a resident of Pilar, which falls under Kutyar village. The stolen jewellery includes a gold chain that he had worn around his neck, a bracelet, and other gold ornaments.

Acharya has five sons of whom one works abroad, while two are settled in Mumbai, and the rest are settled elsewhere in Karnataka.  Of his two daughters, one lives in Bangalore.

Acharya’s wife passed away four years ago and he lived alone at home. His other married daughter resides nearby in Alasinakatte with her husband and used to come to prepare food for him daily in the mornings. 
 
She had arrived at his house as usual on Monday morning and upon ringing the bell, got no response from inside.  She peeped through a rear window and found her father lying in a pool of blood in the drawing room.  She alerted the neighbours and the ghastly murder came to light.
 
The police were informed and on arrival, they broke open the main door and found Acharya’s body soaked in blood while the TV was switched on at a low volume.  The cupboards in the house had been ransacked. 

Karkala sub-division deputy superintendent (DySP) Santhosh Kumar, Kaup circle inspector Cheluvaraj, and Shirva sub-inspector N C Ganesh visited the crime scene with the canine squad and fingerprint experts. 

Dr Francis, medical officer, forensic department of KMC Hospital, Manipal, conducted examinations on the body to arrive at the cause of death. 
 
DySP Santhosh Kumar said that special teams will be formed to nab the killers and suspects will be taken into custody for interrogation.