Kasganj Man Arrested for Alleged Axe Murder of Wife Following Social Media Dispute
A 25-year-old man from Kasganj district has been arrested by police after allegedly confessing to the brutal murder of his wife with an axe, a crime that occurred over a year ago following an argument about her social media activity. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Priyanka Kumari, was reportedly killed on the spot during the altercation, with her body subsequently buried in an agricultural field.
Dowry Harassment Complaint Leads to Investigation
The case came to light when Priyanka's mother, Somvati, filed a formal complaint on Wednesday, accusing her son-in-law Ravendra Kumar of both dowry harassment and her daughter's mysterious disappearance. According to the complaint, Priyanka had been subjected to persistent harassment from her in-laws regarding dowry demands since her marriage to Ravendra on December 14, 2024.
Kasganj Additional Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar revealed that the family's suspicions grew when months passed without any contact from the couple. Initially, Priyanka's brother-in-law Rajesh had informed the family that the couple had gone out for work on April 14 last year, but their prolonged absence raised alarm bells.
FIR Registered and Arrest Made
An FIR was promptly registered at the Sikandarpur Vaish police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy
- Section 85 for cruelty by husband or relatives
- Section 140(3) for kidnapping
- Section 103(1) for murder
Following the registration of the case, Ravendra was arrested on Wednesday night. During subsequent interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the gruesome crime, detailing how the argument escalated to violence.
Gruesome Details of the Crime Emerge
According to police statements, Ravendra admitted that during the heated argument about Priyanka speaking to a friend on social media, he assaulted her with an axe, striking her on the neck and killing her instantly. In a chilling revelation, police reported that Ravendra then enlisted the help of his father, Chhote Lal, to dispose of the body.
The two men allegedly wrapped Priyanka's body in a bedsheet, placed it inside a plastic sack, transported it using a bullock cart, and buried it in an agricultural field. Ravendra fled the area the following day, while family members misled Priyanka's relatives by maintaining that the couple had simply left home.
Body Exhumed and Evidence Recovered
Following Ravendra's arrest, authorities exhumed Priyanka's body from the field where it had been buried. Additionally, the murder weapon—the axe used in the attack—was recovered from Ravendra's house, providing crucial physical evidence in the case.
This tragic incident highlights the severe consequences of domestic disputes and dowry-related harassment, with the social media argument serving as the immediate trigger for the violent confrontation that ended a young woman's life.
