Two held for woman teacher's murder

A school teacher and his driver were arrested on Friday in connection with the death of the former's colleague, days after the partly decomposed body of a 43-year-old woman was found near a beach here.

Crime branch arrested Venkataramana Karanth and his driver Niranjan after confirming their role in the killing through forensic evaluation.

The woman, Roopasree, was missing since January 16 and the body was found washed ashore near Kumbla beach two days later.

Investigation revealed that Roopasree was killed by forcibly holding her head in a bucket of water after which the body was dumped in the sea.

The Crime Branch has also taken into custody the car which was used to transport the body.

"There seems to be certain financial dealings between Roopasree and Karanth. They had some personal issues too... We are probing the matter.

We are questioning the accused for further details," a senior police official said.

Roopasree had left for school in the morning of January 16 and did not return, relatives said.

Initially, Manjeshwaram police probed the case and then on January 18, her semi-decomposed body was found washed ashore.

During investigation, forensic department experts found Roopasree's hair in Karanth's car, officials said.