Doc stabbed to death in Karnataka's Dharwad, son injured, wife in police custody

Dharwad (Karnataka), Jul 16 (PTI) A 45-year-old anaesthetist was allegedly stabbed to death at his apartment here, while his eight-year-old son sustained serious stab injuries in an apparent attack, police said on Thursday. His wife, Dr Priyanka, was initially taken into custody for questioning, and was subsequently shifted to hospital, as she had allegedly injected herself with a very high dose of insulin with the intention of committing suicide, they added. The deceased, Dr Kiran Honnannavar, worked at a private hospital and resided at Ranka Stelo Apartments on Karnataka University Road. According to police, Honnannavar was found lying in a pool of blood on a bedroom mattress with fatal stab injuries to his neck on Wednesday. His son was also found with severe stab injuries in what police suspect was an attempt on the child's life. Acting on information, police visited the spot, rescued the boy and shifted him to a hospital. He is now said to be out of danger, according to officials. A preliminary investigation suggests the incident may have been linked to a domestic dispute, based on a complaint lodged by the victim's family members. Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said they are trying to ascertain what really transpired. He said the woman, a doctor, allegedly answered calls made to her husband's mobile phone by his relatives and friends since Tuesday evening, telling a different story about his whereabouts each time. "Why the incident happened, for what reason needs to be ascertained. Only three people -- husband, wife and child -- were at home. No one has come from outside. We need to investigate what really happened. A murder case has been registered," the Commissioner told reporters. Stating that the woman was in a complete state of shock and was making incoherent statements, he further said the exact motive behind the murder will be known only after the investigation. Police said the child is reportedly autistic, and this requires verification. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway. Later in the day, speaking to reporters, the Commissioner said the woman had injected herself with a very high dose of insulin with the intention of committing suicide, and had been shifted to hospital. "After she was taken into custody, as she had shown signs of unhealthiness and not in her good senses, she was taken to hospital, where we got to know, she had injected herself with a very high dose of insulin with an intention to commit suicide. She is in the hospital, and once she is fit for discharge and able to cooperate with the investigation, we will take her into custody and follow the due procedure," he said, adding that police are yet to ascertain the sequence of events. Responding to a question, Shashikumar said that, according to family members there were issues between the couple and she had assaulted him in the past, and had also threatened to kill him. Replying to a question about him being the first to identify that the child was still alive, the Commissioner said, "When I visited the spot last evening, a few doctors, neighbours, and family members were already there, but they thought it was appropriate not to touch or see the body and the child. I tried to see the kid and the injuries on his body. On realising that he was still breathing, the child was immediately shifted to the hospital. The child is now reportedly stable and out of danger." PTI KSU KH