Daijiworld Media Network - Balrampur

Balrampur, Dec 25: An 18-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death and her body set on fire to destroy evidence, police said on Wednesday. The victim’s fiancé, his alleged lover and the lover’s mother have been arrested in connection with the crime.

Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar said the victim, Shalimunish, a resident of the Laldeeh Hussainabad Grant area, was engaged a few months ago to Imran (22), a resident of Chhapia in neighbouring Gonda district.

During the engagement period, Imran allegedly developed a relationship with another woman, Sakina, through social media. When Shalimunish came to know about the affair and objected to it, the trio allegedly hatched a conspiracy to kill her, the SP said.

According to police, Sakina called Shalimunish to her house on Tuesday, where Imran was already present. The two allegedly strangled the young woman to death.

To make the murder appear as a case of suicide and to destroy evidence, Imran, Sakina and her mother Zainab allegedly poured kerosene on the body and set it on fire, police said.

The body has been sent for postmortem examination. A case has been registered under relevant sections at Rehra Bazar police station, and all three accused have been taken into custody.