Bhagalpur Police Crack Gruesome Murder, Uncle Held as Mastermind
In a chilling turn of events, the Bhagalpur police have successfully unravelled the brutal murder of 28-year-old Abhishek Kumar, whose dismembered body was discovered in the Ganges river last month. The investigation has led to the shocking arrest of the victim's own maternal uncle, identified as the prime conspirator behind the gruesome crime.
From Missing Person to Murder Investigation
The case began when Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Maksaspur village who was living with his uncle in Nathnagar for work, went missing on the night of December 23. A formal missing report was lodged at the Nathnagar police station on December 24.
The search took a grim turn on December 26, when police recovered a torso from the river at Shahpur diara locality in Raghopur panchayat. The remains were tied with a plastic rope and a jacket, and packed in a plastic bag filled with sand and bricks. In a further gruesome discovery, police divers recovered the victim's head and legs on December 27.
Blackmail Over Illicit Relationship Triggered the Crime
Initial police suspicion had pointed towards a dispute related to money from a cellphone purchase. However, a deeper probe revealed a more sinister motive. Santosh Kumar Das, the maternal uncle of the deceased, was allegedly involved in an illicit relationship.
Abhishek Kumar had discovered this secret and was blackmailing his uncle, threatening to expose the affair to his maternal aunt. He was also extorting money and other benefits from Santosh, causing tensions to escalate severely over time.
Bhagalpur SP (City) Subhank Mishra stated, "The main reason was brewing animosity due to blackmail over the illicit relationship, coupled with monetary disputes." He added that from the very first day, investigators noticed ambiguity in Santosh's statements, which prompted a more intense scrutiny of his role.
Arrests and Recovery of Evidence
Through sustained interrogation over the past weekend, police first arrested three youths connected to the crime. Based on their confessional statements, the authorities moved to apprehend the alleged mastermind, Santosh Kumar Das.
The police have seized crucial evidence from the accused, including:
- A country-made pistol
- Three cellphones
- Blood-stained clothes
- Two three-wheelers used to transport and dump the body parts
- Other belongings linked to the crime
The recovery of the vehicles used to dispose of the body parts was a significant breakthrough in piecing together the sequence of events after the murder.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community in Bhagalpur, exposing a family tragedy born out of secrecy and extortion. The police's methodical investigation, which shifted focus from a simple monetary dispute to a complex personal vendetta, was key to cracking this heinous crime.
