Mysuru: In a dastardly act, a man strangulated a woman he knew and killed her by drowning her in water. The incident occurred last evening near Kabini bridge between Haradanahalli taluk and Hommaragalli.

Dharmesh, an autorickshaw driver from Kanchamalli village in H.D. Kote taluk, has killed Dakshayani (40) from the same village. Even as the fight between the two was unfolding, Haradanahalli Gram Panchayat (GP) former President Rajendra and others noticed the altercation and tried to prevent the tragedy. But in no time the incident occurred and the alleged murderer who tried to escape was nabbed by the villagers and handed over to the Police.

Dakshayani, who belonged to Kanchamalli village in H.D. Kote, was married to Nagaraju from Koppasoge village of Nanjangud. The couple had two children. About four years ago, Nagaraju passed away. Dakshayani had left the children with her parents and she was living alone at her   husband’s village.

On Monday, Dakshayani had come to her parents house to buy clothes and books for her children and after that she said she will be leaving to her husband’s village. Meanwhile, Dharmesh, who had also come to the village, called Dakshayani and both of them left in the autorickshaw. He stopped the autorickshaw near the Kabini bridge picked up a quarrel and attacked her.

GP former President Rajendra and a few others, who were passing by, noticed the altercation and by the time they could go near, Dharmesh and Dakshayani have fallen from the bridge into the water. Even before the villagers could come down the bridge, Dharmesh had strangulated and drowned her in the water.

He later tried to escape in his autorickshaw. However, the villagers gave him a chase, caught hold and handed him over to the Police. Auto driver Dharmesh is single and a few villagers were heard talking that he was in an illicit relationship with Dakshayani. However, the exact reason for him to bring her from her parents’ house and kill her, is not yet known.

H.D. Kote Police reached the spot, conducted mahazar and shifted the body to the mortuary. Dharmesh was taken into custody and the investigation is on.