Daijiworld Media Network - Noida

Noida, Nov 15: In a chilling revelation that has sent shockwaves across Noida, police have arrested a 34-year-old bus driver for the gruesome murder of a woman whose headless and limbless body was discovered in a drain under Sector-39 limits on November 6.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Yamuna Prasad, the only identifiable clue at the crime scene was a pair of toe rings found on the victim. With no immediate leads, nine police teams swung into action to crack the case.

Over 5,000 CCTV cameras were examined and nearly 1,100 vehicles scanned in a massive hunt to trace both the victim and the suspect. “From these, 44 vehicles were shortlisted for detailed scrutiny. Their drivers and owners were questioned extensively,” the DCP said.

The breakthrough came when a white-and-blue bus was spotted moving suspiciously near the crime location on November 5 with its lights switched off. The vehicle, bearing registration number UP16 KT 0037, led police to Monu Singh alias Monu Solanki, a resident of Barola.

Further investigation revealed that the victim was Preeti Yadav alias Preeti Devi, who had been missing for nearly a week. Preeti, employed at a jeans factory in Barola along with her mother, was reportedly embroiled in a long-standing dispute with Singh.

Acting on intelligence, the police arrested Singh on Friday and recovered the bus, a bloodstained mat, clothes of the deceased, and other remains based on his disclosure.

During interrogation, Singh allegedly confessed to being in an illicit relationship with Preeti. He claimed she had begun demanding money from him and often threatened to implicate him or embroil his daughters in illegal issues.

On November 5, Singh allegedly picked up Preeti after secretly taking a gadansa (sharp-edged tool) from her house. The duo reportedly ate inside the bus before an argument spiraled out of control. Singh is said to have attacked Preeti with the weapon, beheading her and severing her hands to conceal her identity.

The torso was dumped in the Noida drain where it was later found, while other remains and the weapon were discarded in a dry drain near Siddharth Vihar in Ghaziabad. Forensic examination of the bus confirmed the presence of human blood.

Police have registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway.