Bengaluru murder case: Prime suspect who chopped woman's body in 50 pieces hails from West Bengal, says Karnataka minister

NEW DELHI: The prime accused in the gruesome murder of a 29-year-old woman in Bengaluru has been identified as a man from West Bengal, Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara confirmed on Monday. The victim, Mahalakshmi, was found dismembered in her Vyalikaval apartment on Saturday, with her body chopped into 50 pieces and stored in a refrigerator.
Parameshwara has assured the public that those responsible would soon be arrested."Already some information has been collected, which I cannot reveal now, but we will soon nab those involved... As early as possible, we will secure (those involved)," Parameshwara told reporters.
The disturbing discovery of Mahalakshmi's body, reminiscent of the 2022 Shraddha Walkar case, was made by her mother and elder sister at her apartment in Vyalikaval on Saturday. Police said the body was severely decomposed and maggot-infested.
Earlier city Police Commissioner B Dayananda also confirmed that the suspect has been identified, describing him as "an outsider." He added, "As far as the Vyalikaval case is concerned, we are investigating it from all angles. The prime suspect has been identified. The only thing is we are yet to apprehend him."
Several police teams have been dispatched across India to locate the suspect and any accomplices. Mahalakshmi's estranged husband, meanwhile, expressed suspicion toward a man known to her.
Mahalakshmi's mother, Meena Rana, described the horrifying moment she found her daughter's dismembered body. "The owner of the building informed me about a foul smell coming from the house. When I opened the door, I saw her body cut into pieces," she said.
The victim’s elder sister demanded swift justice, asking, "Who cuts a woman into pieces like this?"
The case has once again raised concerns over women's safety in Bengaluru. Minister Parameshwara acknowledged ongoing efforts, including the Nirbhaya programme and increased CCTV coverage, but stressed the need for even greater precautions.
"We have taken steps, but still we don't know how to term these (incidents)... We have already alerted all police stations to be extra careful about women's safety," he said.