Bhawanipatna: Police Thursday arrested a man and his associate for allegedly killing his eight-month pregnant wife and burying her body near a farmhouse on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna town in Kalahandi district. The decomposed body of the woman was exhumed near the farmhouse in Sripur Monday afternoon.
Following an investigation, police identified the deceased as Barsha Patel, 25, of Sarlanji area under Bhawanipatna Sadar police limits. Suspicion arose after her husband, Nilambar alias Lalit Patel, went missing after the body was recovered.
Police later apprehended Lalit and his associate, identified as Jashobant Goud of Chakradhar Nagar, from the local area. According to police, Lalit strangled Barsha January 26, allegedly over an extramarital affair and ongoing family disputes. He then buried her body with the help of Jashobant. Both accused were arrested Thursday and are scheduled to be produced in court Friday.
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Police said Lalit’s mother and aunt are also suspected of having been involved in the crime. They have been detained for questioning. Investigators recreated the crime scene with Lalit after his arrest Thursday. Police said Lalit and Barsha were reportedly cousins in a relationship, who married for love in 2023 despite opposition from their families and community.
As they were not accepted socially, the couple had been living away from the family, frequently changing places.
Meanwhile, Lalit allegedly developed a relationship with another woman, leading to frequent quarrels with Barsha. Police have registered a case (48/2026) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and said further investigation is underway. The crime came to light Monday when a sanitation worker noticed a finger protruding from the ground while cleaning the area and alerted the farmhouse owner, who informed police. Officers recovered the body and seized a ‘Mangalsutra’ and materials allegedly used in the crime.
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