Bengaluru Horror: Techie Killed After Resisting Sexual Advances, Flat Set Ablaze; Teen Held
What first appeared to be a tragic fire accident in an East Bengaluru apartment has now been confirmed as a brutal murder, sending shockwaves through the city.
The incident occurred on the night of January 3 at a flat in Subramanya Layout, where 34-year-old software engineer Sharmila Kushalappa was found dead after a fire broke out. Initially suspected to be a short circuit, the case took a dark turn after forensic findings revealed that the victim had been suffocated to death, and the fire was deliberately set to erase evidence.
Sharmila, a native of Dakshina Kannada, was employed with a well-known technology company and lived alone in the apartment. Following the post-mortem and forensic analysis, police confirmed that the fire was staged after the murder.
An 18-year-old PUC student, who lived next door with his mother, has been arrested in connection with the crime. According to investigators, the accused allegedly entered Sharmila’s flat through a sliding window around 9 pm on the day of the incident.
Police said the accused demanded sexual favours from the victim and attacked her when she resisted. During the struggle, he allegedly pinned her down and covered her mouth and nose, causing her to lose consciousness. She also suffered a minor injury and bleeding during the assault.
After killing her, the accused allegedly gathered clothes and other items from the flat, placed them on the bed, and set them on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence. He then fled the scene, taking Sharmila’s mobile phone with him.
The accused has been remanded to three days of police custody, and further investigation is underway to reconstruct the sequence of events and gather additional evidence.
The incident occurred on the night of January 3 at a flat in Subramanya Layout, where 34-year-old software engineer Sharmila Kushalappa was found dead after a fire broke out. Initially suspected to be a short circuit, the case took a dark turn after forensic findings revealed that the victim had been suffocated to death, and the fire was deliberately set to erase evidence.
Sharmila, a native of Dakshina Kannada, was employed with a well-known technology company and lived alone in the apartment. Following the post-mortem and forensic analysis, police confirmed that the fire was staged after the murder.
An 18-year-old PUC student, who lived next door with his mother, has been arrested in connection with the crime. According to investigators, the accused allegedly entered Sharmila’s flat through a sliding window around 9 pm on the day of the incident.
Police said the accused demanded sexual favours from the victim and attacked her when she resisted. During the struggle, he allegedly pinned her down and covered her mouth and nose, causing her to lose consciousness. She also suffered a minor injury and bleeding during the assault.
After killing her, the accused allegedly gathered clothes and other items from the flat, placed them on the bed, and set them on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence. He then fled the scene, taking Sharmila’s mobile phone with him.
The accused has been remanded to three days of police custody, and further investigation is underway to reconstruct the sequence of events and gather additional evidence.
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