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Journalism of Courage
In focus
It seemed like a case of accidental electrocution when the body of a 41-year-old man was found near the electrified fence in a farm in a village in Anand district of Gujarat on the morning of August 8.
Post-mortem report confirmed their suspicions. It was found that the man was “electrocuted” with a current much stronger than the non-fatal one passing through the farm fence. Officials at Anklav police station knew they had a murder mystery on their hands.
The plot was unravelled when the connection of the deceased man was found with a house in the locality, not very far from where the body was discovered in Padhiyarpura village in Asodar in Anand district.
After talking to neighbours, police learnt that the man was having an affair with a married woman, Neeta, who lived in the house. The neighbours also told them that the relationship had become a cause of strife between the woman and her family members, said police.
On Sunday, Neeta’s husband Sanjay (43) and her mother-in-law Tara (65) were arrested for allegedly murdering Pravin alias Pintoo Bhoi.
Police said the villagers told them that the deceased would often come to the house “through the backdoor”.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pramod Diyora told The Indian Express, “August 7 was Neeta’s 40th birthday and the accused were aware that the deceased would visit… Bhoi allegedly called Neeta around 11pm and as per the usual practice, she had prepared for him to enter the house via the backdoor. However, unknown to them, Sanjay and Tara had laid out exposed electric live wires on the road leading to the house.”
Diyora said the accused had been laying down the wires for over 10 days, hoping that Bhoi would step on them one day and get electrocuted. “After Bhoi’s death, Sanjay dragged the body of the deceased and left it in the farm belonging to neighbour Kalpesh Padhiyar to pass it off as death due to the electrified fence,” said the DCP.
Diyora said that after the doctor conducting the post-mortem examination pointed out that the burn marks on the ankle and shoulder of the deceased pointed to electrocution by a live wire, the police began its probe into the murder.
“Both Sanjay and Tara confessed immediately that Neeta’s extra-marital affair with the deceased had been going on for over a decade and had embittered an entire family, including their children — two daughters aged 22 and 19, and a son aged 16. While the older daughter is married, the younger daughter knew about her mother’s relationship as they worked together in a cigarette factory, where Neeta also met the deceased…” Diyora added.
Following Bhoi’s death, Sanjay got himself admitted to the hospital, complaining of high blood pressure, police said. However, both Sanjay and Tara were arrested on Sunday evening and remanded to judicial custody.
Diyora said, “We did not seek remand of the accused as we had recovered the electric wires used for the murder from their home. The two accused have given their confessional statement. Neeta seems to be unaware that the two had planned to eliminate Bhoi and has also been denying that she had invited the deceased over to her place on August 7… The electric wire has been sent for forensic testing.”
Bhoi is survived by his wife and two children aged 12 and 14, police said. Sanjay and Tara have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 103 (1) for murder, 238 for causing disappearance of evidence and 61(2) for criminal conspiracy.
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