'Men must learn to accept rejection of women'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In yet another shocking incident here, a woman has been brutally killed by a jilted lover for turning down his marriage proposal. Investigating police officers have revealed that the two were in a relationship for the past five years.

Responding to the brutal crime, a city-based women's rights advocate, who didn't want to be named, expressed concern on the rising crimes against women. She said that women need to learn self-defence techniques on how to protect themselves from such attacks. "Eve-teasing and stalking should not be taken lightly," she said.

"What is more shocking about this case is the smile that the assailant had on his face when he was getting arrested. It seems that the crime he committed was not serious enough for him to feel guilty. Many such cases have been reported where a woman is attacked or killed for turning down a marriage or love proposal. Why can't men accept rejection from women?" she asked. The accused was identified by the police as Dinakar Banala, 28, employee of a healthcare company and a native of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.

The accused was arrested by the police who rushed to the spot after being alerted by some eye-witnesses to the incident on Tuesday. The deceased, Leela Pavithra Nalamati, worked at Omega Healthcare Management Services Private Limited in Murugeshpalya here, sources said.

The police told News Trail that the accused had been stalking the woman for over six months and had threatened to kill her if she did not marry him. On Tuesday, the accused waited for the woman to come out from her office in the evening and confronted her.

Demanding an answer, the accused started arguing with her on the road and as she started raising her voice, the enraged accused stabbed her multiple times in full public view. "The incident took place around 7:30 pm in Murugeshpalya. The girl's family was not ready for the wedding because of the caste difference between both of them. Hence the accused stabbed her multiple times," police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru East, Bheemashankar S Guled said on Wednesday that the accused has been arrested. He had stabbed the woman more than 10 times, but the actual count will be ascertained after a detailed report has been procured.

"It was revealed that Leela had informed Dinakar that her family would not agree to their marriage and she would have to abide by their decision," he added. Last year in a similar cowardly act, a 23-year-old woman suffered more than 35 per cent burn injuries on her face and body after a spurned lover who was waiting outside her office in Kamakshipalya, threw acid on her.