A 38-year-old married woman was killed by her lover after an argument over a mobile phone conversation, with the accused later dismembering her body and dumping her remains at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district, police said on Monday.
The accused, identified as Himal Khakharia alias Dilip (42), a resident of Gujarat, was arrested after an encounter with police late on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.
Police identified the victim as Reshma Khan, known as Sana. According to investigators, the report added, Khakharia brought her from Babatpur in Varanasi to a rented accommodation in the teachers’ area within the limits of Madhyahu police station.
Police said that a quarrel broke out between the two over a mobile phone conversation.
“There was an argument between the two over a mobile phone conversation. In a state of anger, the accused cut the woman’s throat with a knife while she was sleeping,” station house officer Dipendra Singh said, according to PTI.
During interrogation, Khakharia allegedly admitted that he dismembered the body because he thought it would be difficult to dispose of it in one piece, police said.
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According to investigators, the accused bought black polythene bags from a local market and used a cleaver to cut off the victim’s hands and legs before cutting the body into three parts.
The crime came to light on Sunday morning after locals discovered a mutilated body dumped in the bushes near Ranipur Bypass in Madhyahu police station area and informed the police.
A station security team launched an investigation to identify the victim and track down the suspect.
Arrest after the meeting
Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted Khakharia near Ramnagar Block Gate. According to police, he allegedly opened fire while trying to flee, prompting officers to retaliate in self-defense.
The police said that the accused was injured during the exchange of gunfire and was arrested around midnight.
Investigators said the victim’s torso was dumped near Ranipur Bypass, while her legs and other body parts were disposed of near a stream near the Ramnagar Block turnoff. Police said Khakharia was on his way to dispose of his body remains when he was intercepted.
The police recovered a .32 bore locally made pistol, two live cartridges, two spent cartridge cases, the knife allegedly used in the murder, remaining body parts, a mobile phone and a motorcycle from the accused.
Further investigations are underway.
(With inputs from PTI)
