Karnataka serial killers captured; 11 cases cracked

TUMKUR: They ran a brothel to earn money, and killed the sex workers to earn more. In just eight months, a three-member gang led by a woman murdered as many as 11 women for money and jewellery. On Monday, Tumkur police nabbed two of the accused — Prema, 42, and her nephew Raghavendra, 25. The third accused, Sundaresh, is absconding.
Police have seized a Maruti van and 100gm gold from them.Police zeroed in on the trio after the death of Lakshmidevi of Nagashettyhalli in Bangalore whose body was found in Tumkur’s Bellavi. The Tumkur police traced the address of Lakshmidevi and her friends. Call logs of Lakshmidevi led police to the accused, about whom the victim’s friends had also hinted. Police traced Prema and Raghavendra to Shimoga. Upon quizzing, they revealed the tale of horror.
Raghavendra and Sundaresh would identify sex workers wearing heavy jewellery and bring them to Prema’s house in Sultanpalya in Bangalore, from where she ran a prostitution racket. They targeted sex workers as they wouldn’t have a strong family support, said police.
Tumkur SP T R Suresh told TOI that they would scour Majestic and other areas for their quarry. “At the house, the trio would offer the woman liquor or juice laced with sleeping pills. Once the woman falls asleep, they would steal the jewellery, money and cellphone. Later, they would tie the victim’s limbs with a rope, smash her head, put the body in a gunny bag, ship it out of the city in their Maruti van,’’ Suresh said. The accused dumped the bodies of four women around Nelamangala, three in Tumkur district and four in Bangalore and surrounding areas.
In many cases, the accused would scar the body to make identification a tough job. Four of the 11 victims have been identified. Police said the victims could be from the state or outside and their families may not be aware of the happenings.
IGP Kamal Pant said the accused committed their first murder in March 2010.