Youth who had married against parents’ wish murdered

Body found in Hemavathi River near Holenarsipur

Mandya: A 29-year-old youth, who fell in love and married the girl against her parents’ wish has been allegedly murdered and his body was found floating in Hemavathi River near Holenarasipur.

The deceased is Manju, a resident of Siddaianakoppal village in the taluk. His body was traced in Hemavathi River in Holenarasipur Police limits. His neck was slit with a sharp weapon and the body was thrown into the river after tying a big stone.

Details: Manju was in love with Archana of the same village since seven years. As Archana’s parents had objected to their relationship, Manju and Archana got married on Sept. 10 at Anjaneyaswamy Temple at Shikaripura in Shivamogga district.

But Archana’s parents, who did not accept their marriage, conducted engagement of Archana with a boy from Maddur and the marriage date was fixed on Oct. 22 and 23. But Manju and Archana left their village, came to Mandya and began to live together after taking a house on rent at Chamundeshwari Nagar.

Archana’s parents who came to know about this, came to Mandya and took a written statement from Archana stating that she (Archana) would not seek any property from them besides telling Archana that she was no longer their family member.

But on Nov. 9 evening, Manju, who went out of the house to fetch milk, did not return home and Archana had lodged a missing complaint at Mandya East Police Station. When Mandya East Police were still conducting their investigation, they received a call from Holenarasipur Police, who told them that they have found a body of a youth in Hemavathi River and gave the body’s description. As the description matched with Manju, Mandya Police took Archana with them to Holenarasipur and showed her the body, which Archana confirmed the body to be of Manju.

While Mandya Police had registered a missing case, Holenarasipur Police registered a case of murder and are investigating. Meanwhile, Mandya East Sub-Inspector Venkatesh told Star of Mysore that if Holenarasipur Police transfers the case to us, we would convert the missing case into a murder case. 

Manju’s parents have expressed their doubts on the parents of Archana as they had married against their wish and also on the person with whom Archana’s parents had got her engaged. 

However, Archana’s parents, who refused their involvement in the murder, said that after Archana got married to Manju, they left her to fend for herself besides stating that the person with whom they got Archana engaged to would not stoop to the level of murdering Manju.