A 35-year-old married man from Punjab, identified as Amrit Lal, was arrested on Monday for allegedly strangling his longtime lover, Anu Devi (30), in Hapur district's Dhoulana area. Police said the accused claimed that the victim was blackmailing and pressuring him to marry her.
Background of the Relationship
Both Amrit Lal and Anu Devi were natives of Ludhiana, Punjab. While Amrit was married, Anu was also married to another man. According to police, the two first met three years ago when Anu frequently visited Amrit's momo stall in Ludhiana. Their acquaintance soon developed into a romantic relationship.
Strain and Alleged Blackmail
Police added that the relationship later turned sour after Anu allegedly began pressuring Amrit to leave his wife and marry her. The accused claimed that Anu had recorded objectionable videos of him and was using them to blackmail him. Unable to cope with the pressure and fearing social disgrace, Amrit allegedly planned the murder.
Planning and Execution
Amrit brought Anu to Hapur, where they rented a house in Dhoulana and lived together while posing as husband and wife. On June 11, Amrit strangled Anu with her dupatta inside the rented accommodation before fleeing the scene. The landlord alerted police after a foul smell emanated from the house, leading to the recovery of the woman's decomposed body and the registration of a murder case.
Arrest and Investigation
Pilkhuwa CO Anita Chauhan said police tracked down and arrested the accused using technical surveillance and manual intelligence. “Preliminary investigation indicated that blackmail, marriage-related pressure and frequent disputes could have been the motive behind the crime. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the murder and revealed that he had moved to Hapur only 10 days before the incident,” Chauhan said. The accused was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
