RAJKOT: A troubled marriage in Nana Varmora village of Bhuj taluka in Kutch district allegedly ended in a brutal killing, with an 18-year-old man accused of murdering his wife and disposing of her body in a well so he could marry another woman, police said on Saturday. The accused was arrested within hours of the crime.
Kulsum’s father, Ramju Maman (53), filed a complaint at Madhapar police station in Kutch West against his son-in-law, Mohsin Maman, accusing him of killing his 19-year-old wife, Kulsum alias Gulsum Maman, on Friday night.
According to the FIR, Kulsum was married to Mohsin two years ago, when she was still a minor, in keeping with community customs. Police said Mohsin had allegedly been in a relationship with another woman from the same village for nearly five years, even before his marriage, which led to frequent disputes between the couple. Investigators believe Mohsin began to see Kulsum as an obstacle to his relationship.
Police said that on Friday night, Mohsin allegedly slit Kulsum’s throat with a sharp weapon, placed the body in a sack, transported it on a motorcycle to the farm where he worked, and dumped it into a well.
The crime came to light on Saturday morning around 7 am when Kulsum was reported missing from her in-laws’ home. Her family, who live barely 200 metres away, launched a search. During the search, her clothes were found floating in the well at the farm, prompting the recovery of her body.
Investigating officer A K Jadeja said the couple were first cousins, with Kulsum being the daughter of Mohsin’s uncle. During questioning, police found that Mohsin had resumed his relationship with the other woman after the marriage, which allegedly culminated in the murder.
Police have recovered the knife allegedly used in the crime and the motorcycle used to transport the body. While no evidence has so far emerged to suggest the involvement of Mohsin’s parents, further investigation is underway to ascertain whether anyone else was involved.
A case has been registered under Section 1030 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
