BENGALURU: A 40-year-old homemaker was hacked to death in front of her minor son and three family friends at Agrahara traffic signal junction on Hosur Road in Electronics City late on Monday night.
Archana Reddy, a resident of Bellandur, had visited Jigani with her 16-year-old son to cast her vote in the elections held to Jigani town municipal corporation. After that, she visited some family friends and relatives before heading back home in her car. Four assailants, who had come in motorbikes and scooters, ambushed the vehicle. Three men, Manoj, Harish and Pramod, were travelling with Archana.
The car in which Archana Reddy was travelling
“They tried to stop the vehicle near the traffic signal. We were told that the car was being driven by Harish at that time and he alerted Archana, her son and the others to escape. Harish tried to speed away but the miscreants blocked his car’s path with a two-wheeler, forcing Harish to stop. The front portion of the car was damaged as it rammed the two-wheeler and then the railings. By then, the three men and the teenager jumped out of the car and ran some distance. They turned back and saw three armed men pulling Archana Reddy out of the car and hacking her. She died instantly. Her body bore at least 15 wounds,” an officer said.
Probe revealed that Archana and her second husband Naveen Reddy had developed differences over her ancestral property in Channapatna, Ramanagara district. Archana had lodged a dowry harassment case against Naveen two months ago.
“Naveen Reddy resides in Jigani, while Archana lived in Bellandur. We’re yet to get a clear picture on her family background. It is a murder for rivalry which was pre-planned and executed,” he said.
According to police, Archana had divorced her husband nine years ago. She had two children, both from her first marriage. The elder daughter is 21.
Police have picked up five men for questioning.
