Bangalore:
A woman, fed up with interference from her mother-in-law, bludgeoned her while she was asleep and later hanged herself. The incident occurred at Munkunda village in M K Doddi police station limits in Channapatna of Ramnagar district, on Saturday night.
27-year-old Sunitha got married to Rajesh five years ago and had two sons Preetam (3) and Pranam (2).
She killed her mother-in-law Lakshmamma (62), in a fit of rage because she was living with them and used to constantly interfere with the couple leading to repeated quarrels.
According to the police, there were constant disputes with her in-laws and Sunitha wished to live separately with her husband and kids. She was asked by elders in the village not to desert her in-laws as they were aged and needed someone to look after them. Recently, Sunitha had a quarrel with Lakshmamma and went to her parent's home in Bhadregowdanadoddi village near Kanakapura, the police said.
She returned a fortnight ago and a quarrel broke out again over the matter, which left Sunitha fuming.
On Saturday night when everyone was asleep, Sunitha allegedly killed Lakshmamma by striking her on the head with an iron rod. The old woman's screams woke up the rest of the household and Sunita even attempted to attack Rajesh, but he managed to escape and raised an alarm.
Neighbours gathered outside and requested Sunitha, who had locked herself inside, to open the door. She blamed her husband and other family members for supporting Lakshmamma and refused to open the door.
The police were informed and by the time they arrived at the spot and broke open the door, Sunita had hung herself from a fan with her sari.
Channapatna's Deputy Superintendent of Police T Siddappa said that if the villagers had broken down the door immediately after Lakshmamma was murdered, they could have averted Sunitha committing suicide. "Rajesh was drunk at the time when Sunitha attacked him. The villagers feared that she would attack them and therefore did not break the door," he said. M K Doddi police have registered a case and are currently investigating.