A recent fire incident in Bengaluru’s Ramamurthynagar has taken an unexpected turn. What was initially suspected to be a death caused by an accidental fire has been revealed through police investigation to be a cold-blooded, systematic murder.
Background of the Incident
The victim, Sharmila Kushalappa (34), was a native of Mangaluru. She worked as a software engineer at Accenture in Bengaluru and lived alone in a rented flat in Subramanya Layout, Ramamurthynagar. On January 3, a fire broke out in her apartment. When fire department personnel broke open the door to enter, Sharmila was found lying unconscious near the kitchen. Although she was rushed to the hospital, doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Who is the Killer?
In connection with this case, the police have arrested Karnal Kurai K, a second-year PU (Pre-University) student who lived in the flat adjacent to Sharmila’s. Originally from Virajpet in Kodagu district, he resided with his mother on the second floor of the same building.
How the Murder Was Committed
During the police interrogation, the accused, Karnal, confessed to his crime:
Illegal Entry: On the night of January 3, at approximately 9:00 PM, Karnal entered Sharmila's flat through a window. Once inside, the accused expressed his lustful intentions toward her. Sharmila rebuked him and screamed at him to leave the house immediately. Enraged by her rejection, the accused forcibly covered her mouth and nose, smothering her to death.
Blood from Sharmila’s nose and mouth had stained her clothes. To destroy this evidence, the accused set those clothes on fire before escaping through the same window. The fire subsequently spread throughout the entire flat.
How the Truth Came to Light
Initially, it was suspected that the death was caused by smoke inhalation. However, the post-mortem report revealed struggle marks on Sharmila’s hands and signs of asphyxiation (smothering). Furthermore, Sharmila’s friend, Rohit, had filed a complaint expressing suspicion regarding her death. Based on the forensic evidence and the autopsy findings, the police took the accused into custody, where the truth was finally uncovered.
The accused has been arrested and remanded to police custody for three days. The fact that a student could commit such a heinous crime has caused widespread alarm across the city.