Retired medical officer among five arrested for 'abortion murder' of Bantwal woman

Mangalore, September 22: Police have arrested five persons including a retired medical officer in connection with the alleged murder of a young woman in Bantwal taluk.

Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal told media persons on Saturday that 34-year-old Leelavathi had died earlier this month as a result of complication of induced abortion and excessive bleeding.

The accused are Bhaskar Poojary, Bharati, nurse Sadileela alias Leela Karkera, retired medical officer Dr Hanumanth Rao and auto-rickshaw driver Lakshman Poojary. They have been booked under Section 314 (Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage) and Section 315 (Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth) of India Penal Code. They were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody till October 1, said Mr Goyal.

Leelavathi's body was found in a ditch on September 6 at Neerapalke in Panjikallu in Bantwal taluk. According to autopsy report, part of the skull of a five-month-old foetus had been found in her womb.

Upon investigation, it was found that she had been impregnated by her cousin Bhaskar Poojary, who had been involved in an illicit affair with the deceased. On learning of her pregnancy, he had taken the help of Hanumanth Rao to get her aborted.

After having administered Leelavathi with an injection and abortion-inducing medicines, Hanumanth Rao sent her with Bhaskar to Minsa Hospital in Kankanady, where she was illegally admitted with the help of nurse Leela Karkera. Bhaskar handed over Rs 6000 to nurse Leela who was told to abort the foetus without the knowledge of the doctors in the hospital.

In the night, Leelavathi developed severe stomach ache and bled profusely, which resulted in her death. Her body was then brought back to Panjikallu by Bhaskar in his friend Lakshman's auto rickshaw and dumped in the ditch.

The auto-rickshaw used to bring the dead body and the main accused's motorcycle were seized by the police. Mr Goyal also said that further probing would be done on the illegal abortions being done in Minsa Hospital. Each person on duty on the night shift the day the deceased was kept at the hospital has been called for questioning, he said.

The Bantwal police led the operation under the guidance of Puttur ASP Anuchet.