Woman attendant of pvt school bus found murderd, rape suspected

CHITRADURGA: A woman attender of a school bus was murdered by smashing her head with a boulder and her body was dumped in the forest near Kengunte village in Holalkere taluk. The police have arrested one accused in the case and are questioning him.

The deceased was identified as Asha (25), a resident of Ramaghatta village in Holakere taluk and was working at a school in Holalkere. The arrested accused is Manjunath of Kodagavalli village. It is suspected that the woman was raped before being murdered.

Asha had lent Rs 25,000 to Manjunath, but he had not returned the loan. The two had quarrelled several times over the issue and other villagers had intervened on a few occasions.

Two days ago, Manjunath called Asha saying that he would return the money and took her to a deserted place where he allegedly raped and killed her, villagers said. The Holalkere police have registered a case and taken up further investigation.