Dharwad, July 16, 2026
A chilling family tragedy in Dharwad has left investigators stunned after ophthalmologist Priya Honnannavar alias Priyanka allegedly stabbed her husband to death and attacked their eight‑year‑old son before sitting beside them and scrolling through her mobile phone for hours.
Police said the accused was found seated on a bed inside the family’s apartment while her husband, Kiran Honnannavar (45), lay dead in a pool of blood, and their son, Nihit, was critically injured but still breathing.
The incident came to light on Wednesday night after residents of Ranka Apartment in the Barakotri area alerted police.
Hubballi‑Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar said the gruesome scene was unlike anything officers had witnessed in recent times.
“When we entered the apartment, Dr Kiran was lying in a pool of blood. The child had suffered stab injuries but was still breathing. We immediately shifted him to a hospital,” the Commissioner said. Nihit is now stable and out of danger.
Investigators suspect Priyanka attacked her husband and son with a knife while they were asleep following a domestic dispute. Kiran, an anaesthetist from Belagavi, had been living with his wife and son in Dharwad for nearly 12 years.
Relatives grew suspicious after repeated calls went unanswered. When police arrived, they found Priyanka allegedly scrolling through her phone while dazed. Injections and medicines were recovered from the bedroom.
She later complained of dizziness and told doctors she had injected herself with insulin in an apparent suicide attempt. Diagnosed with hypoglycemia, she was shifted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi.
“She is not in a condition to provide a statement at present. Once doctors certify she is medically fit, we will take her into custody and conduct a detailed investigation,” Commissioner Shashikumar said.
The motive remains unclear. Police are probing domestic issues and family background.
Kiran’s family has lodged a complaint against Priyanka. Investigators believe answers may emerge once she recovers and is questioned.(Agency)
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