Couple, son from Davanagere found dead in US; police suspect double murder-suicide
New York/Bengaluru, Aug 20: An Indian couple and their six-year-old child have been found dead in the US state of Maryland in a suspected case of double suicide-murder, police said.
The three people, who are originally from Davanagere in Karnataka, were found dead from gunshot wounds in their Baltimore County home on Friday, when police responded to a welfare check around noon, police said on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Yogesh H Nagarajappa (37), Prathiba Y Amarnath (37) and Yash Honnal (6). Police said they are believed to be husband, wife and son.
"Based on the initial investigation, the incident is believed to be a double murder-suicide that Nagarajappa committed," Baltimore County Police spokesperson Anthony Shelton was quoted as saying by The Baltimore Sun newspaper.
"Each appeared to suffer from an apparent gunshot wound," Shelton added.
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The family members were reportedly last seen alive on Tuesday evening, police said, adding that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the manner and cause of death.
"I am heartbroken and deeply saddened for the innocent victims whose lives were cut short by this horrific act. We will do everything possible to assist family and community members following this tragic incident," a statement by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski read.
Police said that there was no threat to the surrounding communities.
The family was from Hallekallu village in Jagalur Taluk of Davangere district, and had been living in Baltimore, Maryland, USA for the past nine years.
Yogesh's mother Shobha said it's been nine years since her son got married. Soon after the marriage, the couple went to the USA and had been staying there since then.
"Police called my second son who stays in America over the phone and told him about the incident. He informed us about the incident but did not disclose the reason," Shobha said. "We don't know what happened and when this happened. We only got to know that the deaths have happened. We are not getting any information how it happened whether they did it or someone else did it."
She appealed to the Centre and the State government to bring the bodies back to India.
"It's been three days since the incident happened. We have not seen the body," Yogesh's mother said. "Help us get the bodies. We have not seen the photos either."
Shobha added that a few days ago Yogesh had called her and said they were all doing well. He did not mention any problem that he might have been facing, she said, adding that she didn't notice anything amiss.
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4 unrecognised madrasas sealed in UP's Shravasti
Lucknow, Apr 30 (PTI): Four unrecognised and illegally operating madrasas were sealed in Shravasti district on Wednesday as part of the Uttar Pradesh government's drive across districts bordering Nepal against unauthorised religious structures, an official statement said.
Besides, several temporary and permanent encroachments within a 15-km radius of the Nepal border were cleared, it said.
Till date, 36 illegal madrasas have been sealed and 131 unauthorised encroachments demolished.
A mosque in Bhartha village in Roshangarh under Bhinga tehsil, Bahraich was also razed as it was constructed on government land, the statement said.
In Pilibhit district, a special drive was carried out within 10 km of the Nepal border to remove encroachments on public land.
The operation, led by the Additional District Magistrate and Additional Superintendent of Police, did not yield any objectionable material, but confirmed encroachments were present.
In Maharajganj district, enforcement action has been taken against 13 illegal madrasas and mosques in Nautanwa tehsil.
Six illegal encroachments in Nichlaul and 14 in Farenda tehsil were also demolished there, the statement said.
In Lakhimpur Kheri, specifically in the border tehsils of Nighasan and Palia, demolition drives were carried out against an illegal mosque in Krishnanagar and an Idgah in Chandan Chowki, with full coordination between Police and Revenue officials.
In Balrampur district, one illegally occupied madrasa has been vacated, and notices have been served to five others. Encroachments on two tombs have been removed, while notices have been served to five more.
Overall, 13 illegal encroachments have been identified, and action has been taken against three, the statement said.
A case involving an unauthorised Idgah is also being processed, it said.
Investigations have revealed 20 madrasas failing to meet the required standards all of which have been shut down, it added.
Besides, two madrasas have been issued notices for failing to submit necessary documentation despite prior warnings.
In Bahraich, five encroachments were removed on Wednesday in the Nanpara and Mihipurwa tehsils.
So far, 127 illegal constructions have been demolished in the district, the statement said.
Based on a report by the Minority Welfare Officer, a madrasa was sealed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of sealed madrasas in the district to six.
In Siddharthnagar, action was taken on Wednesday against one illegal encroachment. So far, 17 such cases have been addressed in the district, including three mosques and four madrasas, the statement said.
