19-year-old woman’s body found in Shivamogga canal, family says man poisoned and pushed her to death

G K Mithun Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Shivamogga, told reporters that Surya forcefully took Swathi to a canal located on the outskirts of Bhadravathi. “As per the complaint received, he poisoned her with an insecticide first before pushing her into the canal,” he said.

Kumar further said the police were also looking into whether Surya’s father had any role in the incident and that the investigation was progressing.

Swathi’s family members filed a police complaint against Surya and his father accusing them of murdering her. Her family alleged that Surya was blackmailing Swati and threatened to die by suicide if she refused to marry him.

Sources said that the two youngsters had been in love and that her family was opposed to it. She was studying in a college at Shivamogga and had come home during the weekend. On September 21, Surya allegedly picked Swati from her home at around noon and went towards the canal.

Surya and Swathi are said to have consumed the insecticide and jumped into it, according to the sources.
Surya was rescued from the canal by locals who allegedly witnessed the incident and was rushed to hospital. However, attempts to rescue Swathi did not succeed and her body was fished out later by the locals.