Bengaluru college shooting: Gauthami's shattered parents hope for justice

Bengaluru, April 6: 38-year-old Mahesh K, who shot dead an 18-year-old Gauthami R, a second year student of Pragathi PU College in east Bengaluru on Tuesday, March 31st night, was said to be a popular and helping person.

Mahesh was working as an office attendant in the college from last years. "Since college students were not allowed to keep mobile phones, their parents used to call on Mahesh's number to talk to their wards", said a TOI report. [Bengaluru college shooting: Girls insulted me by calling 'Uncle', says killer Mahesh]

Gauthami's father called Mahesh to talk to her

On the ill-fated day, T Ramesh, Gauthami's father called on Mahesh's number around 7.30 pm to talk to his daughter.

He said that Gauthami who sounded well, told him that she would come home after the Common Entrance Test(CET) was over.

Gauthami's father who runs a pharmacy store in Pavagada town in Tumakuru district recalled that his daughter always wanted to be a doctor.

"She was a class topper, she wanted to study medicine and hence was studying hard to become a doctor", he said.

Aggrieved father has many questions to be answered like, "Why did he kill her? Where did he get the gun from?"

Hoping for justice, he said, "Every person directly or indirectly responsible for the death of my daughter should be brought to book, not just the killer."

Her inconsolable mother R Lakshmi, was quoted saying as, "Does anything matter, now that Gouthami is gone forever?"

Gauthami's parents met Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

To seek speedy and fair investigation, parents of Gauthami met state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence on Friday afternoon.

"We have lost our daughter who was our life. All that we request is justice. My daughter's killer should get the maximum punishment," Ramesh said.

Gauthami's aunt, Dr Nagaveni, from whom she got inspired to be a doctor recalled, "Gauthami was more like a younger sister to me. She used to talk about becoming a doctor. Whenever I asked her what she wanted, her answer would be 'books'. We are proud to have had such a daughter in our family. A prompt punishment to her assailant will be the society's greatest gift to her."

'Can't believe Mahesh could kill my daughter'

As per a report published in Bangalore Mirror, distraught Ramesh was quoted saying as, "I can't believe that Mahesh has killed her. He was a very good person, my daughter never complained about him. I don't know what made him kill my daughter." [

"I had full faith in Mahesh, he was a very good person, a kind human being, and he never got irritated by our calls. Hence I had made him responsible for my daughter as he was in college all the time. He used to get something for Gauthami whenever she wanted to buy something," he further said.

Gauthami refused to accept gift from Mahesh

A few months back, Mahesh had approached Gauthami and had offered her a 'gift' which she refused to accept. She told him to stay in his limits and not harass her. She had even complained to the principle about the same. [How the killer planned gruesome murder to kill college girl revealed]

As his advances were rejected, Mahesh, who felt insulted decided to kill Gauthami. On Tuesday, March 31 night, he barged into her hostel room and shot her dead and grievously injured her another friend.

A day after committing the deadly crime, he was arrested by Kadugodi police officials. [Killer arrested, was trying to flee to his native]

One of the major security lapses of the college is that there were "no CCTV cameras in the hostel".

OneIndia News