GORAKHPUR: A man allegedly strangled his wife to death over suspicions that she was speaking to another man on a mobile phone and buried her body in a six-foot-deep pit behind their house in Gorakhpur’s Belghat area. The crime came to light four days later after the victim’s father-in-law approached the police, accusing his own son of killing his daughter-in-law.The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Belghat police station. The accused, Arjun, a resident of Baili Kund village, had returned home from Ludhiana about 15 days ago, where he worked as a labourer. On the night of December 21, following a heated argument, he allegedly strangled his 25-year-old wife, Khushboo.According to police, Arjun initially told family members that Khushboo had left the house without informing anyone. Both her natal and in-law families searched for her but found no trace. On Thursday morning, Arjun’s father, Shyam Narayan, walked into Belghat police station and submitted a written complaint, expressing suspicion that his son had murdered Khushboo and disposed of her body.Police teams rushed to the house and detained Arjun for questioning. During interrogation, he first claimed that Khushboo had died by suicide and that he had thrown her body into a river. He then took the police to a riverbank outside the village, where he misled investigators for nearly two hours by failing to point out the exact spot.Sensing deception, police subjected him to sustained questioning, following which he broke down and confessed. He revealed that he suspected his wife of hiding a mobile phone and secretly talking to a boyfriend. The dispute escalated late at night when they were alone at home, culminating in her murder. He then dug a pit behind the house and buried the body.On Thursday afternoon, police exhumed the body in the presence of forensic experts and sent it for post-mortem examination. Evidence was collected from the spot.Based on a complaint filed by Khushboo’s younger brother, police have registered a murder case against the accused husband. The couple had been married for about two years and had no children. Khushboo’s parents are deceased, and her brother and other relatives reached the village after being informed of her death.Senior Superintendent of Police Rajkaran Naiyyar confirmed that a case of murder has been registered and further probe.
