A 23-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death by her maternal cousin in Gurgaon's IMT Manesar area. The accused, who had come to the city seeking work, hid her body inside a bed box and fled. The crime came to light when a colleague noticed her absence from work and discovered the body.
The Incident
The victim, identified as Soni, hailed from Hardoi village in Uttar Pradesh and worked at Dhoot Transmission Private Limited near her rented accommodation in Shankar Ki Dhani colony, Manesar. The accused, Devesh, also from the same village, arrived in Gurgaon on May 6 in search of a job and rented a room nearby. Soni had been helping him with job interviews, but he had not secured employment.
On May 10, a heated argument broke out between the two inside Soni's house. Police suspect Devesh strangled her with a rope during the altercation. After the murder, he allegedly covered her face with a plastic bag, stuffed her body into the bed box of her cot, and fled the scene.
Discovery of the Crime
The murder was discovered on Sunday evening when Soni failed to report for work and did not answer phone calls. A female colleague went to check on her and found the room bolted from outside. Upon entering, she noticed a foul smell and opened the bed box, where she found Soni's body. Residents immediately alerted the police.
Teams from IMT Manesar police station, the crime branch, and the forensic unit arrived at the scene and collected evidence. Soni was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Police Investigation
According to a police official, the murder appears to have taken place on Sunday. The exact motive remains unclear and will be determined after the accused is arrested. Soni had completed an ITI course and earned around Rs 14,000 per month. Her parents were informed and arrived in Gurgaon on Tuesday. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
An FIR has been registered at IMT Manesar police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder. The accused is absconding, and a manhunt is underway.
Police are investigating all angles, including the possibility of a premeditated crime. Further details are expected once the accused is apprehended.
