Bengaluru police arrest autorickshaw driver for stabbing home guard wife to death

A 38-year-old autorickshaw driver was arrested by the Bengaluru police on Monday for allegedly stabbing his wife, a home guard attached to the Mahadevapura police station, to death on Sunday evening. The attack took place at the victim's parental home in front of the couple's two young children.

The accused, Pradeep Kumar, reportedly arrived at his in-laws' residence around 7:00 p.m. under the pretext of reconciling with his wife, Manjula. According to the police, Pradeep fell at Manjula's feet to seek forgiveness, violently pulled her legs to make her fall, and then pulled out a knife. He stabbed her 15 times across her abdomen, chest, shoulder, hands, and head.

Manjula was rushed to the KR Pura Government Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. The couple's 14-year-old daughter sustained injuries to her fingers while attempting to intervene and protect her mother during the assault. Their 10-year-old son also witnessed the incident.

According to family members, Manjula and her children had been living at her parental home since June 11 following frequent marital discord. Family members alleged that Pradeep suspected Manjula's fidelity, questioned the paternity of their children, and had lost nearly Rs 8 lakh in online betting. The couple had married in March 2012, and Manjula had previously lodged complaints against Pradeep at the Mahadevapura police station.

Following the murder, Pradeep fled to a local lorry parking area. He then contacted the police to inform them of the killing and claimed he had attempted suicide by slashing his hand. Officers subsequently took him into custody from the lorry stand.

Before the attack, Pradeep had reportedly recorded selfie videos in which he stated that his online betting habit had destroyed his family. In the videos, he claimed that he could not live without his wife and threatened to kill her and end his own life if she refused to return to him.