Ranchi, July 7: Ranchi police have solved the murder of a 29-year-old man with the detention of his wife and her alleged lover, who are accused of killing and beheading him, officials said on Monday.
The victim, identified as Sanjay Lohra, a resident of Manjhidih village under Tamar police station limits, was allegedly murdered by his wife, Subodhini Devi, and her alleged lover, Raman Seth, who police said conspired to kill him as they wanted to marry.
Lohra’s partially burnt, headless torso was recovered from the Tetartanr forest under Bundu police station on June 19. Acting on information provided during interrogation, police later recovered his severed head from the Rani forest near Sundardih village in the Tamar police station area, where it had allegedly been buried to conceal the victim’s identity.
According to police, Subodhini Devi disclosed during questioning that she was in an extramarital relationship with Seth and wanted to marry him, following which the two allegedly conspired to kill Lohra.
Police alleged that after the murder, Seth, along with two associates, beheaded the victim and buried the head in the forest. Raids are underway to arrest the two absconding accused, officials said.
Bundu Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Om Prakash said the investigation initially became difficult as the victim’s head was missing.
“It had become a blind murder case for investigators. It was difficult to establish the victim’s identity without the head. However, technical and forensic evidence helped us identify the deceased as Sanjay Lohra,” he said.
Police said the identification of the victim led investigators to question his wife, which subsequently led to the alleged conspiracy being uncovered.
Investigators have also seized a car suspected to have been used to transport and dispose of the victim’s body. Further investigation is underway.
