Youth drowns at Nanjangud

Mandya/Nanjangud: A couple, along with their daughter, allegedly committed suicide by jumping into Visvesvaraya Canal near Chandagalu, Srirangapatna taluk in Mandya district yesterday. Debts and family issues are said to be the reason for the family of three to end their lives.

The deceased have been identified as Masthaiah (52), an autorickshaw driver, his wife Rathnamma (40) and their daughter Lakshmi (14), all residents of Ganjam in Srirangapatna.

It is learnt that Masthaiah had taken hand loans from many persons amounting to about Rs. 12 lakh for family maintenance. To repay the loans, Masthaiah tried to sell his agricultural land but reportedly had to face problems from his brother Shankar Nayak, leading to the family ending their lives, according to the complaint lodged by Masthaiah’s co-brother Ashoka with the Police.

Details: On Monday morning, Masthaiah brought his wife and daughter in his auto from Ganjam to Visvesvaraya Canal near Chandagalu. After parking the auto on the Canal bund, all the three jumped into the Canal.

Meanwhile, a few persons, who were working in their agri fields nearby and saw the three jumping into the Canal, dived into the water in a bid to rescue the family but in vain as water was full in the Canal. The three family members were reportedly drowned and their bodies had swept away.

Expert swimmers and divers were summoned to the spot, who conducted a search operation and finally traced the bodies of Masthaiah and Rathnamma near Mahadeshwara Temple Road at Sundahalli, about 5 kms away from the spot from where they had jumped into the Canal. Efforts are being made to trace and fish out the body of Lakshmi, who was said to be pursuing her education at a school in Ganjam.

While the spot from where the family jumped into the Canal comes under Shivalli Police limits, the place where the bodies of Masthaiah and Rathnamma were found comes under Mandya Rural Police. As of now, Mandya Rural Police have registered a case and are investigating. No death note was found in the autorickshaw and the Police also searched the house of Masthaiah in an effort to get some clues.

Mandya Superintendent of Police (SP) Mallikarjun Baladandi, Dy.SP L.K. Ramesh, Mandya Rural Inspector Srinivasarao, Sub-Inspector Rasool Saab M. Goundi and staff visited the spot.

Youth drowns in Nanjangud

A youth, who had gone for a swim at Hathwal Katte in Hullahalli, Nanjangud taluk, drowned in the water on Sunday evening.

The deceased youth is Salman (22), son of Nazir Ahmed of Hullahalli. It is said that Salman and  three others had gone to Kabini Hathwal Katte for a swim when Salman drowned.

Hullahalli Sub-Inspector Chethan Kumar and staff, conducted an inspection and summoned Fire and Emergency Services personnel to the spot to trace and fish out the body of Salman. As it grew dark, the search operation was suspended and the body was traced and fished out yesterday morning.

Hullahalli Police have registered a case.

An auto driver, his wife and daughter have committed suicide by jumping into Visvesvaraya Canal. The bodies of Masthaiah and his wife Rathnamma have been found and a search operation is going on to trace the body of the couple’s daughter Lakshmi. There is information that they had a debt of Rs. 12 lakh and also it is learnt that there were family issues. Masthaiah’s co-brother Ashoka of Hunsur has lodged a complaint and a case has been registered. It is said that the family has left behind a death note and a search for it will be conducted at their house in Ganjam. An investigation into abetment to suicide or whether the family members were being harassed will be conducted. In case anyone is found to have harassed the family or provoked them, legal action will be initiated against them. —Mallikarjun Baladandi, Mandya SP