A 10-year-old boy in Bengaluru narrowly escaped being murdered by his own uncle after he was taken on a journey in a car that secretly contained the bodies of his parents stuffed inside gunny bags, police said on 6 November 2026. The accused, identified as Indushekar, allegedly killed seven members of his wife's family over several days before being intercepted by police in the Halasuru area of Bengaluru.

How the Boy Survived

The child — the son of Shankar and Nalini, who were among the last victims — was kept alive temporarily, according to investigators, because Indushekar allegedly needed him to answer phone calls and send messages to relatives, maintaining the false impression that the family was alive and travelling. Police said the accused had allegedly planned to kill the boy upon returning home, but was arrested before he could carry out that plan.

During the drive, the boy reportedly asked Indushekar about a foul smell emanating from the vehicle and from the gunny bags. The accused allegedly told him the bags contained garbage and waste material. While the child slept, Indushekar allegedly disposed of the bodies in the Shiradi Ghat region before driving back to Bengaluru.

Sequence of the Seven Killings

According to police, Indushekar first killed his 40-year-old wife Sunitha, followed by his 65-year-old mother-in-law Roopavathi. He then allegedly murdered his 30-year-old brother-in-law Shivakumar, Shivakumar's wife Divya, and their seven-year-old son Puneeth. The final victims were his other brother-in-law, 40-year-old Shankar, and Shankar's wife Nalini. Investigators say Indushekar reportedly took two to three days to plan and execute each killing. The victims were allegedly attacked while sitting or sleeping, with a grinding stone allegedly used to render them unconscious before they were killed.

Indushekar had allegedly purchased around 15 plastic gunny bags to pack and transport the bodies, and used chemicals after each murder to clean the grinding stone and the house. Police initially struggled to detect bloodstains, but forensic examination using modern equipment revealed blood splashes across the hall, rooms, and kitchen.

How Police Closed In

A missing-person complaint had been lodged at Srirampura police station. Investigators tracked the mobile phones of the missing family members, whose devices were repeatedly showing the same location as the accused's phone. Police waited for Indushekar to return to the city. When he reached the Halasuru area, officers intercepted his vehicle. A foul smell was emanating from the car at the time of his detention. The mobile phones of the victims, kept together in a hand cover, were recovered from the vehicle. During interrogation, Indushekar allegedly confessed to the seven murders.

Role of the Minor Daughter

Investigators allege that Indushekar had prepared his minor daughter to assist him in murdering his wife, and she is suspected of having helped him in the crime. She is being treated as the second accused in the case. Police said Indushekar had also allegedly planned to murder another individual, though that plan was not executed. The investigation into the full sequence of killings, the minor daughter's role, and the accused's further alleged plans is ongoing.

What Happens Next

The 10-year-old survivor is now safe with authorities. Police are continuing forensic work and legal proceedings, with the case expected to move toward formal charges. The involvement of a minor co-accused adds a significant legal dimension to what investigators are treating as one of the most premeditated family massacre cases seen in Karnataka in recent years.