A 28-year-old man, Robin Ali, accused in a dowry death case, was arrested after a police encounter in Lakhimpur Kheri in the early hours of Sunday. The post-mortem confirmed that his wife, Shahnaz Bano, 23, was strangled and suffered electric burn injuries, police said. This marks the first case in which a dowry death accused was held after an encounter.
Encounter Details
Robin Ali sustained a bullet injury to his leg during an exchange of fire with a Padua police team near Dhakherwa Khalsa and was arrested on the spot. He is the prime accused in the murder of his wife, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances on June 5.
Senior Superintendent of Police Khyati Garg said the accused opened fire while attempting to evade arrest. “Police retaliated in self-defence, and he was apprehended after sustaining a gunshot injury,” she said, adding that he is undergoing treatment in police custody.
Case Background
An FIR was registered on a complaint by the victim’s father, alleging prolonged harassment over dowry. Police said Shahnaz, who married Robin in May 2022, faced repeated abuse over demands for a motorcycle and Rs 40,000. She stayed at her parental home for nearly a year and returned to her in-laws’ house around three weeks before her death following a compromise.
Post-Mortem Findings
The post-mortem report confirmed homicide, citing “asphyxia due to ante-mortem throttling” as the cause of death. Doctors noted neck injuries, fracture of the thyroid cartilage, blood in the trachea and electric burn marks, indicating severe violence before strangulation.
“Medical evidence clearly establishes murder, and relevant sections have been added,” the SSP said.
Additional Evidence
Police also found bloodstains in a room separate from where the body was recovered, suggesting the assault took place elsewhere. A country-made pistol, cartridges and a motorcycle were recovered from the accused.
