Karnataka Woman Kills Husband With Her Foot

In a deeply disturbing incident from Tumakuru district, Karnataka, a woman, along with her lover, allegedly murdered her husband following tensions over an extramarital affair. This incident raises important questions about mental stress, emotional breakdown, and the growing trend of domestic crimes in India.

What Happened?

Shankaramurthy, a 50-year-old man, was living alone in a farmhouse in Kadashettihalli village. His wife, Sumangala, was employed as a cook in a local girls’ hostel. According to police reports, Sumangala and her lover Nagaraju, a resident of a nearby village, conspired to kill Shankaramurthy after he strongly opposed their ongoing affair.
On the day of the crime, Sumangala allegedly threw chilli powder into her husband’s eyes to immobilize him. Following this, she beat him with a wooden club and then pressed her foot on his neck, suffocating him to death a method indicating personal rage and intent to dominate.

How the Crime Came to Light

After the murder, the couple allegedly wrapped the body in a gunny sack and transported it nearly 30 kilometres away, dumping it in a farm well in Turuvekere taluk, possibly in an attempt to destroy evidence and delay police investigation.

Psychological Aspects of the Crime

This case appears to stem from a complex interplay of emotional distress, moral dissonance, and impulsive aggression.

Emotional Conflict: Marital disagreements and the pressure of maintaining a secret extramarital affair may have triggered sustained mental stress. The decision to resort to violence indicates a possible breakdown of rational thinking.
Premeditated Violence: Use of tools like chilli powder and a club, followed by an attempt to hide the body, reflects planning and calculated behaviour, often seen in individuals with suppressed anger or antisocial traits.
Lack of Impulse Control: The act of pressing the neck with one’s foot, rather than using a weapon alone, is highly personal and symbolic, suggesting deep emotional involvement, dominance, and revenge.

Such acts point to potential undiagnosed mental health issues, such as intermittent explosive disorder (IED), borderline personality features, or even narcissistic rage in response to perceived humiliation or rejection.

Mental Health Takeaway

These cases reflect a growing mental health crisis related to relationship stress, emotional instability, and poor conflict resolution. When communication fails and therapy is unavailable or underutilized, frustration may build into a rage, sometimes ending in violence.

Conclusion

While infidelity and marital discord are not uncommon, their escalation into violent crime is a sign of deeper psychological and societal issues. These stories urge us to take mental health seriously, prioritize emotional support, and promote open communication and conflict-resolution strategies in relationships.

Every life lost to domestic violence is a reminder that silence, stigma, and neglect can be fatal.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources

I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.