A horrific discovery has shaken the state of Uttar Pradesh, with two separate and brutal crimes against women coming to light within days of each other. In Hapur district, the charred remains of an unidentified woman were found in a field, while in Ghaziabad, a female landlord was discovered murdered and stuffed inside a suitcase in her own rental property.
Hapur Sugarcane Field Horror: A Grisly Discovery
On Thursday, police reported a chilling find in the Lahadra village of Hapur district, under the Bahadurgarh police station limits. The semi-naked and badly burnt body of a woman, estimated to be around 30 years old, was recovered from a sugarcane field located behind some brick kilns. The grim discovery was first made by local villagers, who immediately alerted the authorities.
Police teams rushed to the spot but faced immediate challenges. The victim's face was severely charred, making visual identification nearly impossible. Preliminary observations by officials point towards a heinous sequence of events. Prima facie evidence suggests the woman may have been subjected to rape and murder before her body was set on fire, likely in an attempt to destroy forensic evidence. Investigators also suspect the crime was committed at a different location, with the body later dumped in the isolated field to conceal the victim's identity.
The woman's clothes were partially burnt, and she had sustained severe burn injuries on multiple parts of her body. A search of the vicinity yielded no suspicious objects. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, and police have stated that the exact cause of death will be determined once the report is received. A comprehensive investigation is currently in progress.
Ghaziabad's Suitcase Murder: A Routine Visit Turns Tragic
In a separate and equally disturbing incident, a routine rent collection trip ended in tragedy in the Rajnagar Extension area of Nandgram, Ghaziabad. Deepshikha Sharma, a 47-year-old woman, was found dead on the night of Tuesday, December 18, inside a large red suitcase. The suitcase was kept in a property she owned at Aura Chimaera, Raj Nagar Extension.
Sharma had left her home earlier that morning to collect monthly rent from her tenants. When she failed to return and stopped responding to calls, her family grew concerned. The alarm was first raised by her domestic help due to her prolonged absence. A search of the apartment premises led to the horrific recovery of her body inside the suitcase.
Police were informed and swiftly arrived at the crime scene. Their subsequent investigation and questioning led them to Sharma's tenants, identified as Ajay and Akriti Gupta. "Upon receiving the information, the police immediately arrived at the crime scene. Further investigations and questioning led them to the tenants," confirmed Upasana Pandey, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Nandgram.
Both suspects are now in police custody and are being interrogated. The victim's family is in the process of filing a formal First Information Report (FIR). The crime scene remains secured, and Sharma's body has also been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the precise cause and time of death. Legal proceedings are moving forward.
A Pattern of Violence Demands Attention
These back-to-back incidents in western Uttar Pradesh have cast a stark light on the grave issue of women's safety. The brutality displayed in both cases—one involving burning to destroy evidence and the other involving concealment in a suitcase—has sent shockwaves through the communities. The police investigations in Hapur and Ghaziabad are now critical, not only for delivering justice for the victims but also for restoring a sense of security. The outcomes of these probes will be closely watched as the state grapples with these alarming crimes.
