Dhanbad: Police have arrested four persons in connection with the murder of a young woman whose decapitated body was recovered near Dhangi hill in Dhanbad district on Sept 11. Her severed head, packed in a sack, was found a short distance away.SP (city) Ritwik Srivastava said the deceased was identified as Punam Kumari, who was in her 20s. She was the daughter of Sandeep Ravani, a resident of Begabad police station area in Giridih district, and had been missing since Sept 9.Following a complaint from her family, Baliapur police registered an FIR and began an investigation. Based on evidence gathered during the probe, police arrested Jairam Ravani, 40, a resident of Rajganj; Kishore Mahto, 35, of Baliapur; Alomani Devi, 48; and Ram Prasad Rajwar, 50.Police said all four were members or associates of the deceased’s family. Alomani is the sister-in-law of Sandeep, who has been named as the alleged main conspirator and is absconding. The other three accused were reportedly close associates of Punam’s father.Investigators said Punam had married Krish Ravani of Sheetalpur after a relationship. Police suspect that opposition to the marriage led to a conspiracy to kill her and dispose of her body to conceal the crime.During investigation, police examined CCTV footage and analysed technical evidence to identify the suspects. A knife allegedly used in the murder, the victim’s slippers and some puja materials were also recovered.“Raids are being conducted at multiple locations to arrest the absconding accused, including Sandeep,” Srivastava said. Further investigation is under way to establish the role of each accused.
