The body of a 35-year-old woman has been found in the storage compartment of a double bed at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Outer Delhi’s Mangolpuri region on Wednesday, in a spine-chilling crime that has shaken the capital.
The Discovery
The gruesome discovery was the result of a suspicious report made by the owner of the PG in the Patthar Market area. Police reported that a PCR call was made late Tuesday evening for a woman lying under “suspicious circumstances.” On further examination of the third-floor room, officials found the body concealed in the bed box. The forensic evidence was notable for visible strangulation marks around her neck as well as blunt-force trauma to the forehead.
Affair and "Secret Meeting"
The probe found that the victim, a married woman resident in Mangolpuri, had been dating one of the accused who was identified as Deepak. It was reported by police that on the afternoon of April 7, the woman, who is also married, got to the PG at about 4:30 PM to meet Deepak. The two reportedly spent around an hour alone in the room. A few moments after Deepak left the place alone, the PG owner noticed the problem and entered the room and then informed the authorities.
The Delhi Police moved quickly to arrest three on Wednesday:
- Deepak: The alleged lover and main suspect.
- Surendra (alias Bobby): An associate present at the scene.
- Joginder: Another associate, who was on the scene of the crime.
A police officer in charge said a case has been filed under the BNS which also includes murder. "We are looking at all possible angles and a possible argument regarding the relationship which might have contributed to the murder," said the officer. "We are also investigating allegations of sexual harassment or assault against all three men in the victim’s immediate vicinity."
Community in Shock
This latest incident raises new questions for the safety and regulation of PG accommodation in this city. As at any previous incident, forensic teams and experts (from Forensic Science Laboratory, FSL) have taken samples from the crime scene. It has been sent for post-mortem examination to investigate whether sexual assault took place prior to strangulation. Investigators are piecing together the details as they determine if it was a premeditated murder.
