Bathinda (Punjab): The Bathinda Police have solved the murder of a 20-year-old woman whose partially burnt body was found stuffed in a suitcase near Behman Diwana village along the Bathinda–Malout highway on February 11.<br /><br />The accused, 35-year-old Prince Kumar of Gulabgarh village, residing in the Surkhpeer area, has been arrested. Police have recovered the knife allegedly used in the murder and the car used to transport the body.<br /><br />The victim has been identified as Sapna alias Mallika, a resident of Bagha Purana in Moga district, who was living in Bathinda. Police said she was married, though it is unclear whether her family was aware of her circumstances. Sources said her husband is currently in jail in a drug-related case.<br /><br />Senior Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav said the accused confessed to killing Sapna at his residence on the morning of February 9. He allegedly stabbed her to death and attempted to burn the body inside a suitcase to destroy evidence. Fearing detection, he kept the body at home for two days before placing it in a new suitcase and dumping it near Behman Diwana on the intervening night of February 10–11.<br /><br />Police recovered a fully burnt suitcase believed to have been used in the initial attempt to destroy evidence, and another new suitcase allegedly used to dispose of the body.<br /><br />The victim was identified through her face and a tattoo. Call data records and CCTV footage revealed she was last seen with Prince Kumar on February 7. Around 15 suspects were examined before the accused was traced.<br /><br />Police suspect a personal motive and described it as a crime of passion. The accused is reportedly a drug addict with no prior criminal record. The viscera report is awaited to determine if the victim had consumed drugs.<br /><br />Further interrogation is underway.<br /><br />#Bathinda #PunjabCrime #SuitcaseMurder #CrimeNews #BreakingNews #WomenSafety #PunjabPolice
