Did a Karnataka Woman Murder Her Husband and Blame a Tiger Attack for Compensation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- A woman was arrested for allegedly killing her husband.
- She fabricated a story about a tiger attack.
- Compensation for wild animal deaths served as her motive.
- The body was found hidden in a cow dung pile.
- This incident raises ethical questions about desperation and greed.
Mysuru, Sep 12 (NationPress) In a deeply troubling case, a woman has been apprehended for allegedly killing her husband and falsely insisting that he fell victim to a tiger attack in order to secure compensation from the government. This incident occurred in Chikkahejjur village, located in the Hunsuru taluk of Karnataka. The perpetrator, identified as Sallapuri, murdered her husband, Venkataswamy, aged 45, by poisoning him. Following a police investigation, it was revealed that she confessed to the crime, motivated by the substantial compensation offered for deaths attributed to wildlife encounters.
The couple were laborers in the local areca nut fields. On Monday, reports emerged of a tiger sighting in Hejjur village. Sallapuri claimed her husband had gone missing, suggesting that the tiger may have attacked him and taken his body away.
A joint operation was launched by police and forest department officials to locate Venkataswamy's remains. Due to rain, initial searches failed to uncover any signs in the area where Sallapuri claimed he was last seen. However, while searching near their home, authorities discovered his body concealed in a pile of cow dung behind the house.
After extensive questioning, Sallapuri admitted to the murder, revealing that her intent was to claim the significant government compensation available for victims of wild animal attacks.
The woman had plotted to kill her husband, exploiting local rumors of a tiger being on the loose in Hejjur village, according to officials.
In her account, she mentioned hearing a tiger’s roar while her husband was outside. She later led the forest and police teams into the nearby forest area.
When the search yielded no results, suspicions arose, prompting further investigation around their residence. Eventually, Sallapuri confessed to poisoning her husband's food and hiding his body in the dung pile at the rear of their house.
She disclosed that while working at the areca nut farm, she overheard discussions regarding the government’s compensation of Rs 15 lakh for victims of wildlife attacks, which motivated her murderous scheme. The situation has been reported to the Hunasuru Rural Police Station, with ongoing investigations.