The police in Malwa, Fatehpur district, unveiled the chilling double murder case of a woman and her 1.5-year-old child, which occurred in October 2024. Authorities arrested the perpetrator's mother-in-law and son-in-law, while the mastermind, Sonelal, directed the crime from the comfort of his Dubai residence.
Investigations revealed that two hitmen were employed to execute the murder. These hitmen were already serving death sentences for a different murder case in Hathras, which also implicated Sonelal as the main orchestrator.
Bodies of Mother and Child Found in a Drain
On October 21, 2024, the discovery of the bodies of an unknown woman and her 1.5-year-old child near a drain in Bazpur village sparked panic in the area. Responding to a passerby's alert, police rushed to the scene and sent the bodies for autopsy. An unidentified murder case was registered based on the village watchman's complaint.
Considering the case's gravity, the SP ordered the formation of an SIT, assigning the investigation to the City CO. An extensive campaign was launched on social media, bus stations, and trains, yet no crucial lead emerged for a long time.
Identity Revealed 15 Months Later, Unveiling Romance Saga
On January 13, almost 15 months post-incident, Ram Bahadur from Kanpur Nagar's Narwal police area identified the woman as his daughter-in-law, Durga Devi, through photographs, and the child as his granddaughter, Ananya. Investigations revealed Durga Devi's romantic involvement with Sonelal from Jahanabad's Kapil Kishanpur.
Durga Devi wished to live with Sonelal along with her daughter, but the family opposed this. Initial police complaints were settled amicably, but disputes resurfaced, leading to her expulsion from her home.
Revelations Through Call Records and Financial Transactions
Police scrutinized call records and money transfers, unveiling the suspects' presence near the crime scene and extended conversations. Evidence of substantial funds being transferred from Dubai to Manoj Kumar's account surfaced. These findings led to the arrests of Sonelal's mother, Ramrati, and brother-in-law, Manoj Kumar, who were then imprisoned.
The murder executors, Lallu Pal and Vikas Kumar, were already convicted in another murder case in Hathras district. According to police, mastermind Sonelal remains in Dubai, with extradition proceedings underway. The investigation is actively progressing.
