Santhekatte murder-suicide case: Woman’s family alleges harassment, delay in marriage as reason for murder

Udupi: In a news conference held here on Saturday Soumya Bhandari’s family has alleged that her murder was due to the continuous harassment and delay in the marriage by the boy and his family.

We went to Sandesh Kulal’s house several times for marriage talks, but they did not give a proper response. Once we told his uncle to get them married then his brother. We also asked him to get a register marriage done, but he and his family did not agree. Soumya was tired of this and finally relented to marry another man. A wedding date was also scheduled. However, something else was planned by fate, Soumya’s family members said.

Soumya had resigned from the bank where she was working before she was murdered. She resigned because she was getting married. Sandesh Kulal had alcohol addiction. He sometimes would ask minor favours from Soumya and also came to the bank where she worked and harassed her there too. He would also make repeated phone calls to her. We registered a complaint at the Udupi Women’s Police Station a month ago about it, the family added.

Soumya’s mother Sushila, elder brother Sunil, his wife Nikshita and a few others were present at the news conference.