Madikeri: Police have arrested a man in connection with the brutal murder of a mother and daughter in Kodagu, two days after their bodies were found in a coffee estate in the district.

The bodies of Kavitha (45) and her daughter Jagashree (17) were found inside their family-owned coffee estate in the Doddamalte village during a search operation launched after the former’s son grew concerned when he was unable to contact the two.

The arrested suspect Dileep, a resident of Somwarpet allegedly confessed to killing Kavitha (45) and her daughter Jagashree (17) on April 30. He stated that he killed them because they disregarded his repeated warnings to not walk across his property on their way to their own land.

After their bodies were found, their neighbours had told police that the two had a disagreement with Dileep regarding their repeated trespassing of his land and that he had threated to harm them if they continued to do so.

After having questioned three persons in connection with the murders, the police questioned Dileep, who allegedly confessed to the crime.

According to the police, Dileep blocked the mother and daughter while they were walking through his land on Tuesday and after they had an argument, he killed them with a sharp object believed to be a cultivation tool.

Kavitha’s husband, as per police sources, died a few years ago, leaving her and Jagashree to cultivate the land. When the unfortunate incident occurred, Jagashree had come down from St. Philomena College in Hassan, where she was a student, for the summer to help out with the estate.