A police inspector and two officials were suspended following the tragic death of a family member and the critical condition of three others in Thalabetta near Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Chamarajanagara district, on Saturday. The incident involved a family of four who allegedly attempted suicide, resulting in one fatality.
The police inspector and two officers from KR Nagar police station were suspended for failing to act on a family complaint.
According to a police officer familiar with the matter, a 21-year-old woman from the family was in a relationship with a 35-year-old man from Cheeranahalli village. The man allegedly made obscene videos of her and blackmailed her and her family.
“When the woman threw the man’s mobile into the water near Chunchanakatte, he threatened to release the videos on social media. The woman’s family sought help from the KR Nagar police station but allegedly received no action or support,” the officer explained.
Shankrappa Gowda, a local villager, recounted the events: “All four family members arrived by bus and alighted at Thalabetta. They walked about one kilometer into the forest road. We found them lying unconscious on the road and informed the MM Hills police.”
Chamarajanagara SP Padmini Sahoo stated, “The incident occurred around 9 am. Police, with the help of villagers, rushed the victims to a local private hospital and then to Chamarajanagara District Hospital. One victim was declared dead, and we informed Mysuru police officers. We have registered a case of unnatural death at the Male Mahadeshwara police station, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Following the incident, higher authorities suspended KR Nagar police inspector PP Santhosh Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector B Girish, and head constable H Nagaraja for dereliction of duty.
Mysuru district additional superintendent of police B N Nandini said, “The preliminary investigation proved that the police officials who received the complaint did not handle the matter properly.”
