A horrific crime stemming from a drug-fuelled argument has shaken the industrial city of Ludhiana, leading to the arrest of a local carpenter and his wife. The Punjab Police have apprehended the duo for the brutal murder and dismemberment of a 30-year-old man, whose body parts were discovered scattered near the Jalandhar Bypass.
Grisly Discovery and Swift Arrests
The police confirmed on Friday the arrest of woodworker Shamsher Singh Shera and his wife, Kuldeep Kaur. They are accused in connection with the death of Davinder Singh, a digital printing professional based in Mumbai. Davinder's body, cut into six pieces, was found on Thursday. ADCP Sameer Verma stated that the victim had arrived in Ludhiana by train on January 6 to purchase new machinery and had met his friend, Shamsher, soon after.
A Fatal Dispute Over Debt
According to the police investigation, the two men consumed 'chitta' (heroin) at Shamsher's house. While under the influence, a heated argument erupted over an unpaid debt. "During the altercation, Shamsher pushed Davinder, which knocked him unconscious," ADCP Verma explained. Believing the man was dead, Shamsher then used a saw to dismember the body, a gruesome process that took him about two and a half hours.
The Cover-Up and CCTV Breakthrough
Investigators allege that Shamsher acted alone during the initial killing. However, when his wife Kuldeep Kaur returned home from her work as domestic help, she allegedly assisted him. The couple first tried unsuccessfully to burn the remains before dumping the body parts in different locations. The crime came to light after Davinder's family filed a missing person report. Police found his head stuffed in a white plastic drum, with other limbs discovered nearly a kilometre away.
The breakthrough came from surveillance footage that captured the couple transporting the distinctive white drum. "The accused confessed to the crime during questioning," Verma added. While most body parts have been recovered, one arm is still missing, possibly taken by stray animals. The couple remains in custody, facing charges of murder and conspiracy as the investigation continues.
