Man shoots wife to death, kills self by drinking acid in Karnataka

Sullia (Dakshina Kannada): A woman was fatally shot while attempting to protect her son from being gunned down by his father, a rubber grower. Shortly after the incident, the husband consumed formic acid, used to coagulate rubber latex, and ended his life, said Sullia police in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district.

The incident happened at Kodimajalu in Nelluru Kemraje grama panchayat in Dakshina Kannada district, on the border of Kasaragod, around 10 pm on Friday, January 17. Sullia police identified the deceased as Vinoda (42), the woman who was shot dead and her husband Ramachandra Gowda (54).

Sullia police said Gowda, a landed farmer, had pulled the gun on the family before, too. Vinoda was shot dead three days after police returned the gun after keeping the weapon for around three months.

Police said Gowda, under the influence of alcohol, got into an argument with his wife and son Prashanth over a minor issue after dinner. The argument escalated into a heated confrontation, during which Ramachandra pointed a gun -- sanctioned to protect his crops from wild animals -- at his eldest son Prashanth. Sensing that he was about to shoot, Vinoda jumped in between to protect her son. The bullet hit her chest, and she died instantly.

Immediately after the incident, Gowda consumed acid and ended his life. Prashanth called the police. Sullia Police conducted the inquest and sent the bodies for autopsies. The couple is survived by three sons, Prashanth, Nishanth and Ranjith. Police said Gowda owned around five acres of farmland where he had rubber and acacia trees.

In October, Gowda had gotten into a fight with his wife and children after getting drunk, said police. Even then, he had pulled the gun on the family, said police. After the incident, the Sullia police directed him to deposit the weapon at the station.

After three months, Vinoda requested the police to return the weapon, and with the intervention of a social worker, Gowda got the weapon back on Wednesday, January 15. Three days later, Gowda shot her dead. IG West Zone Amit Singh visited the crime scene, along with District Police Chief Yatish N and Puttur DySP Arun Nagegowda.