Couple found murdered in Bangalore

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 20. A brutal double murder, two robberies and a murder for gain marked Bangalore's day of terror on Monday.

The former KPSC Chairman, Mr. Panchagatti's son, Mr. Jawahar Panchagatti (38), a software engineer, and his wife, Ms. Anu Panchagatti, were hacked to death by unidentified persons at their Girinagar house, signalling a cruel twist of fate to their adopted twin babies.

Shrouded in mystery, the murder of the hi-profile couple has perplexed the police. Though the house was rummaged, no valuables were missing, documents were intact, neighbours heard no screams and the couple's dog did not bark. Anu's mangalsutra and ear rings were also in place.

Police, however, claimed that they had ``definite clues.'' ``The motive could be sex, property, or revenge,'' the Chamarajpet Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muthaiah, told The Hindu.

The couple were found dead at about 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday, their bodies strewn with multiple stab wounds on the neck, shoulder and back. However, the two baby girls were not hurt. The bodies were first seen by students of the REATT's College of Computers, where the couple conducted a Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) course from the first floor of their residence on the 100 ft. Ring Road, Banashankari III Stage.

Childless for 10 years, Jawahar and Anu had adopted the twin babies from an orphanage in Hosur last month. For the unfortunate babies, it is now back to orphanhood. Jawahar and Anu were last seen at about 7.30 p.m. on Monday.

Police suspect that the murder was committed between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. Anu had put the gas stove on, apparently to boil milk. The gas was still leaking when the BCA students came calling this morning. The students alerted the Girinagar Police.

The couple were not socialites and hardly ventured out. ``Apart from his friend, Mr. Chandrashekhar, and brother, Mr. Naveen, Jawahar did not have many visitors. They just concentrated on their work,'' the receptionist, Mr. Radhakrishna said. But Mr. Radhakrishna, who recently lost his jacket at the office, had advised Panchagatti to keep a security guard.

Senior police officers, including the City Police Commissioner, Mr. H. T. Sangliana, the Additional Commissioner, Mr. Jyoti Prakash Mirji, and the Deputy Commissioner (South), Mr. Sunil Kumar, visited the spot. Dog squads and finger print experts were pressed into service. The bodies were sent to Victoria Hospital for post-mortem.

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