Police in West Champaran district have made arrests in a grim case of domestic violence, apprehending a man and his brother for the alleged murder of the man's wife. The crime, reportedly motivated by suspicions of an extramarital affair, has sent shockwaves through the Bathwariya police station area of Bagaha.
Father's Complaint Triggers Investigation
The case came to light when the woman's father, Sagar Ram, approached the Bathwariya police station on December 14. He filed a formal complaint stating that his daughter had been missing since December 4. Growing increasingly anxious after not hearing from her for ten days, he had visited her in-laws' house only to find both his daughter and son-in-law absent.
Acting swiftly on the First Information Report (FIR), the police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the disappearance. The team meticulously pieced together evidence, which included:
- Technical data and cellphone call records.
- Detailed interrogation of family members and close associates.
Husband Confesses During Interrogation
The investigation led the SIT to detain the missing woman's husband, Ranjeet Ram, on Monday. Following intense questioning, Ranjeet allegedly broke down and confessed to the crime. He told investigators that he had frequently fought with his wife over her regular phone conversations with her brother-in-law. One such altercation escalated violently, resulting in her death.
Ranjeet further revealed that after the killing, the family panicked. He, along with his brother Baburam Ram, who was also implicated in the incident, moved the body to conceal the crime. They hid it in bushes along the Ratwal-Chakni Champaran embankment, approximately 15 kilometers from the murder site.
Decomposed Body Recovered, Third Suspect Sought
Guided by the confession, police recovered the woman's remains, which were in a decomposed state. The tragic task of identification fell to her father, Sagar Ram. The body was subsequently sent to the Bagaha sub-divisional hospital for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
While Ranjeet Ram and Baburam Ram are now in custody, the investigation is not over. Ramnagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ragini Kumari stated that police are actively working to apprehend another individual believed to be involved in the crime. She assured that the case would be pushed for a speedy trial to ensure the guilty parties face swift justice.
This incident highlights the continuing grim reality of crimes against women within domestic settings, prompting calls for vigilance and stronger protective mechanisms in communities.
