75-year-old man arrested for wife's murder after 23 years on the run

Police in Karnataka's Koppal district have arrested a 75-year-old man for the murder of his wife, 23 years after the crime was committed.

Hanumanthappa was arrested on Thursday by Gangavati police for killing his third wife, Renukamma, in 2002. He had been absconding since the incident occurred.

According to the police, Hanumanthappa killed Renukamma in 2002 in Koppal district. After the murder, he transported her body in a gunny bag on a bus to Kampli in Ballari district, approximately 50-70 km east of Koppal. Kampli is located near the Unesco heritage site of Hampi.

The case was registered at Gangavati Town Police Station. Gangavati is situated in southeast Koppal and is the district’s largest city by area and population. The city is commonly known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Karnataka’.

Hanumanthappa was arrested from his native village of Haladhal in Manvi taluk, Raichur district, where he had recently returned. Haladhal, also spelled Aldhal, is located in the Manvi taluk of Raichur district.

The village is positioned approximately 40-50 km southwest of Raichur city, 100-120 km east of Koppal, and 70-90 km northeast of Kampli, on a bus to which he had dumped his wife’s body.

The 75-year-old accused remained at large for 23 years before his recent arrest. The case involves multiple jurisdictions across Karnataka, with the murder occurring in Koppal district, the body being disposed of in Ballari district, and the arrest taking place in Raichur district.

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