Bareilly IVRI Employee Murder: Love Marriage Turns Tragic Over Property Dispute
A shocking case of murder has emerged from Bareilly, where a 33-year-old contract employee of the prestigious Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) was allegedly strangled to death just two months after his love marriage. The incident, which investigators believe was initially staged to appear as a suicide, has sent ripples through the community and raised serious questions about marital disputes turning violent.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Investigation
Jitendra Yadav, a native of Etawah who was working at IVRI, was found hanging in his rented accommodation in Bareilly's Izzatnagar area on January 26. His family, devastated by the discovery, initially believed he had taken his own life due to alleged harassment and filed a complaint under charges of abetment against his wife, Jyoti Prajapati, and her relatives.
The post-mortem report, however, revealed a chilling truth: the cause of death was not hanging but strangulation. This crucial finding prompted the police to convert the case from a suspected suicide to a full-fledged murder investigation, intensifying their efforts to uncover the truth behind this tragic death.
Property Dispute and Dowry Threats Emerge as Motive
In a detailed police complaint, Jitendra's brother, Ajay Kumar, outlined a disturbing pattern of pressure and threats. According to the family, Jyoti Prajapati, a resident of Durganagar colony in Bareilly, had been relentlessly pressuring Jitendra to sell his ancestral land. The proceeds were allegedly demanded to purchase a house and a car, highlighting material expectations that overshadowed their marital bond.
The harassment extended beyond Jyoti to include her parents, Kalicharan and Chameli, and her brother, Deepak. The family alleged that these relatives repeatedly threatened Jitendra with false dowry cases if he refused to comply with their demands. Relatives told investigators that Jitendra had expressed genuine fears for his safety and had made his unwillingness to sell the family property abundantly clear, setting the stage for a deadly confrontation.
Background of the Relationship and Police Action
Police investigations revealed that the couple had known each other for nearly seven years before tying the knot two months ago, a union that was reportedly against the wishes of both families. This inter-caste marriage aspect is now under scrutiny as authorities examine whether opposition to the match played any role in the killing.
Senior Superintendent of Police (City) Manush Pareek confirmed to media sources, "We questioned the woman's family extensively. After the autopsy conclusively confirmed strangulation, the case is being treated as murder." The police have filed a formal case against Jyoti Prajapati and her family, citing the property dispute and demands for assets as central to the motive.
Officials have stated that further action will be based on evidence collected during the ongoing investigation and questioning. The case underscores the dark underbelly of marital disputes in India, where love marriages can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes when entangled with financial pressures and family conflicts.
