Kundapur: In a brisk operation, the Udupi police solved the three day old murder mystery of a woman and arrested two persons in connection to the same.
The arrested are Vishwanath Naik and Karunakar Shetty.
It may be recalled that 33-year-old Usha Shetty, a resident of Nechchur, Kandavara, was found dead on the banks of River Sita at Gummola-Halniru in Belve gram panchayat limits on Monday, November 30.
Addressing a press meet on Thursday, December 3, Udupi Superintendent of Police Annamalai confirmed that Usha was murdered and said that Vishwanath had confessed to the crime.
He said that as per the autopsy report, Usha was murdered seven days before her body was found. During investigations, it was learnt that she was in constant touch with seven persons including Vishwnath and Karunakar, all of whom have been taken into custody.
Annamalai said that Vishwanath was in contact with Usha for the past eight years and that he used to give her money whenever she asked for it. However, Vishwanath stopped paying heed to her demands off late as he was reportedly in a financial crisis owing to the construction of his house. This led to frequent quarrels between the two and Vishwanath decided to kill Usha.
On the fateful day, Vishwanath called Usha to his new house at Halniru near Gummola. He also called Karunakar, who had demanded sexual favours from Usha. The two men had sex with her and later, when Usha began to quarrel, Vishwanath allegedly killed her with a heavy stone. Later, he disposed her body on the banks of river Sita with the help of Karunakar.
Usha was a married lady, working in a cashew factory at Goliangady. She had separated from her husband about five years ago. Her two children were being looked after by her parents, SP Annamalai said.
Usha last visited her parents during Diwali and stayed for a week post which she did not report to work. The parents got scared when her mobile phone was found to be switched off. A police complaint was then filed at the local police station. On Monday when a female body was found, her family members were informed and her brother identified the body.
Shankaranarayana police who registered the case have seized two rolled gold karimani chains, rolled gold earrings, a pair of silver anklets, a watch, two mobile phones and Rs 10,190 in cash.
