A 22-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by a man in the Dabri area of West Delhi over a financial dispute, said the police on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as 35-year-old Mohammad Salim, a tailor by profession, was arrested from his native village in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, two days after the crime.
According to Delhi Police, a PCR call was received on August 23 at approximately 2:54 p.m., reporting the discovery of a woman’s body inside a sack dumped in a drain.
Authorities from the Dabri police station reached the spot and launched an investigation. The victim’s body was identified as that of Rupa, a domestic worker, based on a tattoo on her hand.
As per reports, Rupa had been reported missing by her mother on August 21, after she failed to return home. She was last seen leaving the house around 10:30 a.m. while speaking to someone on the phone.
During the investigation, CCTV footage from the area showed Rupa entering a building in Mahavir Enclave along with the accused. Shortly afterward, the accused was seen exiting the building carrying a large sack, suspected to contain the victim’s body.
Police say the accused attempted to transport the body on his motorcycle to dispose of it, but it fell off during transit.
In a panic, he dumped the body in a nearby drain and fled the city. A manhunt was launched, and the accused was eventually traced and arrested from Hardoi.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that the two had a monetary dispute. When Rupa demanded her money, an argument broke out, and in a fit of rage, he allegedly strangled her to death. Fearing arrest, he fled to his hometown.
Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) for murder.
Further investigation is underway, and officials say more details may emerge as questioning continues.