Belthangadi: A married woman was found dead at the doorstep of a Gram Panchayat (GP) member’s house on the night of March 6. Illicit affair with the GP member led to her death.

Lakshmi alias Mary (40), wife of Santhosh, a resident of Kubala mane Totattadi is the deceased.

Lakshmi married to Santhosh, is said to have been involved in an illicit relationship with Charmadi GP member named Obaiah. A rubber tapper by profession, Laksmi and Obaiah used to frequent each other’s houses. Their affair often resulted in clashes between the married couples in respective houses. Obaiah’s wife had lodged a complaint with Dharmasthala police and even informed the local church authorities on an earlier occasion. The dispute was then settled through negotiation, but their affair continued.

Lakshmi, a migrant labourer married to Santhosh, was acquainted with Obaiah, even before her marriage.

“Lakshmi knocked my house door last night but I did not open the door. When I finally did, we found her lying at my doorstep and immediately informed her husband”, said Obaiah’s wife, narrating the events before Lakshmi’s death.

“I was sleeping with my son studying in 8th standard and I did not know when Laksmi left the house”, said Santosh. “Only when Obaiah informed us, we rushed to find her lying at his doorstep”, he added. She was immediately rushed to a hospital in Belthangadi but was declared brought dead, Santhosh said.

Locals confirm of Lakshmi’s affair with Obaiah but are not certain about the circumstances which led to her death. Only police investigations followed by post mortem examination can reveal the truth, whether her death was due to suicide or murder, they said.

Dharmasthala Police have registered a case into the incident based on a complaint filed by Santosh. He has cited suicide as the cause of her death, in his complaint. Lakshmi’s body has been sent to a hospital in Deralakatte for autopsy.