Weeks after a man’s body was recovered from a canal in Rajasthan, police arrested his wife and her alleged lover for their suspected role in the brutal killing. A minor was also detained in connection with the crime.
The victim, 32-year-old Bhajanlal, a father of two from Sri Ganganagar district, had initially been reported missing before his body surfaced weeks later in Phalodi district.
According to investigators, Bhajanlal’s wife, Indraa Devi, was in an alleged extramarital relationship with Prabhu Dayal, 32, who lived in the same village. Police believe the two conspired to eliminate Bhajanlal, whom they saw as an obstacle to their relationship.
As per police findings, on January 16, Dayal and a 15-year-old labourer who worked with him intercepted Bhajanlal while he was riding his motorcycle near the village. The two allegedly assaulted him with sticks and strangled him with a rope until he lost consciousness.
Believing he was dead, the accused reportedly placed him back on his motorcycle and transported him nearly 50 kilometres away. However, police said Bhajanlal regained consciousness during the journey. He was then allegedly attacked again with bricks before being killed.
The body and the motorcycle were dumped into a canal, said Amrita Duhan, Superintendent of Police, Sri Ganganagar.
Due to the strong current in the canal, the body was carried nearly 270 kilometres and was eventually recovered in Phalodi district weeks later on January 2. After identification, a case was registered against unidentified persons.
Initially treated as a blind murder with no eyewitnesses or immediate suspects, investigators relied heavily on technical surveillance and local intelligence. The breakthrough came after police traced and recovered Bhajanlal’s motorcycle.
Subsequent evidence pointed toward the involvement of Indraa Devi and Prabhu Dayal, who were later arrested. Police also stated that Indraa Devi remained in constant contact with Dayal while the crime was being carried out.
Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
