Woman Stabbed to Death by Husband at Bus Stand over Suspected Infidelity

A 32-year-old woman, Rekha, was brutally stabbed to death by her husband, Lokesh, in front of her 12-year-old daughter at the Sunkadakatte bus stand on Monday morning, police reported. The horrific incident, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., unfolded in full public view, shocking onlookers at the busy Bengaluru hub. Rekha, a mother of two, succumbed to her injuries—approximately a dozen stab wounds to her chest and stomach—despite attempts by locals and police to rush her to a private hospital. The suspect, Lokesh, fled after threatening bystanders with the knife.

The couple, married for just three months in their second marriages, had a tumultuous relationship marked by frequent quarrels. Rekha, employed at a call centre, had helped Lokesh secure a driver’s job at the same workplace after they relocated to Bengaluru. However, police investigations point to Lokesh’s suspicions about Rekha’s character and alleged closeness to another man as the trigger for the fatal attack.

The couple lived in a rented house near Sunkadakatte with Rekha’s elder daughter from her first marriage, while her younger daughter resided with Rekha’s parents. On the morning of the incident, a heated argument prompted Rekha and her daughter to head to the bus stand, where Lokesh pursued them and launched the deadly assault.

The Kamakshipalya police have registered a murder case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend Lokesh, who remains at large. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and appealing for public assistance.

The 12-year-old witness, deeply traumatised, is receiving counselling. This tragedy highlights Bengaluru’s rising domestic violence cases, with Karnataka reporting a 6% increase in such incidents in 2024, per National Crime Records Bureau data, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures.

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Community leaders and activists are calling for stricter enforcement of domestic violence laws and greater public awareness to curb such tragedies. The incident, occurring in a bustling urban centre, has reignited discussions on women’s safety and the societal impact of unchecked marital discord. Police urge anyone with information on Lokesh’s whereabouts to contact the Kamakshipalya station immediately.

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