Karnataka Woman Kills Brother After Learning He Was HIV-Positive

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A 25-year-old woman and her husband allegedly murdered her younger brother after discovering he was HIV-positive, claiming they acted out of fear of social stigma and family dishonor. The incident took place in Dummi village, Holalkere taluk, Chitradurga district.

The victim, identified as 23-year-old Mallikarjun, had recently been involved in a road accident and was admitted to a hospital in Davangere for treatment. During routine medical tests, doctors discovered he was HIV-positive. The hospital advised the family to transfer him to an HIV care facility for further management.

Instead, his sister Nisha and her husband Manjunath offered to take him to Bengaluru for treatment. On July 25, they returned with Mallikarjun’s body, claiming he had died during the journey. However, suspicious bruises on his neck raised concerns among villagers, prompting them to alert the police.

During interrogation, Nisha allegedly confessed to killing her brother by strangling him with her veil, while her husband helped hold him down. The motive, according to the police, was the perceived shame the family would face due to Mallikarjun’s HIV status. They also claimed he had accumulated debts and feared he would be a burden on their elderly parents.

Police have arrested Nisha, while Manjunath remains on the run. A case has been registered at Holalkere police station under charges of murder. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to locate the absconding co-accused.