Teams formed to trace body of the three-month-old baby

A team of Bidadi police, with the help of forest officials, are combing the Kumbalagodu Reserve Forest in search of the body of a three-month-old infant who was killed, along with his mother, by his father on January 19.

The accused, S. K. Raju, is a warehouse employee. He had met his wife Sushma on Facebook more than a year back, and married her around six months ago. The marriage soured after he took umbrage over Sushma’s alleged addiction to social media.

On January 19, Raju told Sushma that he would take her and their son to an amusement park on his motorcycle. He allegedly deviated from the route, took them to Kumbalagodu Reserve Forest and, on reaching an isolated spot, bludgeoned Sushma and the infant with a boulder. He allegedly poured petrol on the bodies and set them on fire before returning home.

The incident came to light the next day when a forest guard found the remains of Sushma’s body.

By then, Sushma’s parents, who were unable to reach their daughter, had approached the police.

“We identified the body and questioned Raju. He confessed to killing Sushma and his son, but the child’s body is missing,” said a senior police officer.

Met on Facebook

Raju told police that he had sent Sushma, who lived in Tumakuru at the time, a friend request on Facebook. Sushma accepted, and the two became good friends. When she became pregnant, the two got married and rented a house in Madanayakanahalli. Raju continued to work at the warehouse while Sushma stayed at home with the baby.

Raju told the police that she was always on social media and neglected the baby and household chores. “This enraged Raju who decided to murder them and planned the trip accordingly,” the officer added.