Shivamogga: Shivamogga district police have uncovered a shocking truth behind the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl, Sangeetha, who had been missing for more than a year.Initially registered as a missing person case, the investigation revealed that the minor had allegedly died by suicide inside a paying guest (PG) accommodation. Police said four individuals then conspired to conceal her death by stuffing her body into a suitcase and dumping it in a forest.Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Superintendent of police B Nikhil described it as a highly complex investigation and said the process of collecting and analysing scientific evidence was still underway.According to police, Sangeetha, a resident of Taralaghatta village in Shikaripura taluk, went missing on June 18, 2025. Her father, who allegedly struggled with alcohol addiction and had been negligent in her care after her mother left the family, filed a missing person complaint at Shikaripura Town police station on July 3, 2025.Investigators made a breakthrough using technical surveillance and call detail records. Police said Sangeetha had dropped out of school after Class 8 and moved to Shikaripura in search of work. There, the owner of a private PG, Soubhagya, initially took her in and looked after her.The investigation revealed that Sangeetha was staying at the PG when a dispute arose between her and some of the other residents. Soubhagya and another resident, Ranjitha, allegedly accused her of gossiping and spreading rumours about them.On the day of the incident, Soubhagya, Ranjitha and an associate, Ganga Nayak, confronted Sangeetha at a beauty parlour operating on the ground floor of the PG building. The argument reportedly escalated, and police suspect that the minor may have been physically assaulted. Distressed by the confrontation, Sangeetha allegedly went to her room on the upper floor and died by suicide by hanging.Fearing legal consequences, Soubhagya, Ganga Nayak, Ranjitha and another associate, Peerya Nayak, allegedly chose not to inform the police. Instead, they stuffed Sangeetha’s body into a suitcase, loaded it into a vehicle and transported it to the dense Mavingundi forest area under Siddapura police station limits in neighbouring Uttara Kannada district, where they allegedly disposed of it.Police said the four managed to keep the incident hidden for more than a year. The breakthrough came through a combination of technical analysis and personal disputes. Investigators found that Sangeetha’s mobile phone had shown no activity after June 18, 2025, and that her final call records pointed to Ranjitha.Further, a recent dispute between Ranjitha and Peerya Nayak reportedly led to crucial details about the alleged cover-up emerging, giving investigators a vital lead. During questioning, Ranjitha allegedly revealed details of the disposal of the body, police said.Based on her statement, police conducted a spot inspection in the Mavingundi forest and recovered skeletal remains, including a skull. The remains have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination and DNA profiling.Responding to questions from reporters about whether any illegal activities were being run from the PG or whether local police personnel had assisted in the alleged cover-up, the SP said no evidence had surfaced so far. He added that strict action would be taken if any form of administrative complicity was found during the ongoing investigation.
