Overview

• A Holalkere police case was opened after the victim’s father spotted suspicious bruises at the cremation, leading to the arrest of his daughter, Nisha, on murder charges.
• Police say the 23-year-old Mallikarjun was declared HIV positive during pre-surgical tests in Davanagere after being treated for injuries from a July 23 collision.
• Investigators allege Nisha and her husband, Manjunath, strangled him with her veil during a journey under the pretext of taking him to Bengaluru for treatment.
• While Nisha remains in custody, authorities are searching for Manjunath, issuing alerts and coordinating with checkpoints to secure his arrest.
• The killing underscores persistent HIV-related stigma and the extreme measures taken in parts of rural Karnataka to protect family honour.