The Hindu : New Delhi News : Hunt on for murder suspect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Hunt on for murder suspect

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 25. Investigations into the murder of a 27-year-old woman, whose body was found in her rented accommodation at Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi on November 23, have according to the police revealed that her husband, Anil Thapar, used to beat her up in an inebriated state. He is also the prime suspect in the case.

According to the police, Anil, who has been absconding ever since the murder came to light, had a history of getting violent after consuming alcohol. His family members were aware of his habit, they said.

In fact, earlier, he had also spent a night in the lock-up at Lajpat Nagar police station after his wife, Rajni, had complained to the police that he was beating her up.

Anil, who used to work in a saree shop at Chandni Chowk, also used to go to Mumbai and some other cities where he used to put up stalls to sell sarees. He often took his wife along with him.

Preliminary post-mortem report has indicated that Rajni was stabbed several times after she died.

She was hit on the head and the abdomen, which proved fatal, and was later stabbed about 15 times. The police had recovered a bloodstained pair of scissors and a blunt object from the scene of crime.

It was also reported that Anil and Rajni used to live in East Delhi, along with other family members.

They had come to Lajpat Nagar only a few months ago after a property dispute broke out between them and some of their relatives.

The incident had come to light when Rajni's father did not get any response despite repeated calls.

Anil had taken their minor children to his grandparents home on November 20 on some pretext. When nobody came to pick up the children after three days, Rajni's father became anxious and began calling up.

Meanwhile, the police said the picture would become clear once they trace Anil. Further investigations in the case are on.

Alleged car-jackers arrested

Two persons have been arrested by the South Delhi for allegedly being involved in vehicle lifting.

According to the police, the two accused -- identified as Sher Khan and Rafiq, both resident of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh -- were caught red-handed when they were trying to steal a motorcycle at Ambedkar Nagar in South Delhi in the wee hours of Thursday.

The police said the accused, belonging to Kosi Kalan village in Mathura, would come in groups to the Capital by road or by train.

Around midnight, they used to gather in some park and wait for an opportune moment to strike.

In the wee hours, they used to scour the residential areas and look for unattended motorcycles.

"They always took away a couple of motorcycles during a single operation. They would open the locks with the help of a screwdriver and then drive away on them," said a police officer.

The gang also used to keep movie tickets with them to show that they were returning after watching a movie in case the police flagged them down.

Back in their village, the gang used to hide the motorcycles in ditches and then dispose them of one by one. They would sell the motorcycles at a very low price, some of them fetching only a couple of thousand rupees.

The police said the extent of involvement of the accused in vehicle lifting was being ascertained.

Efforts are also on to identify other members of the gang. Further investigations in the case are on.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi