Woman stabbed 35 times, husband’s second wife, her brother key suspects

GURUGRAM: A 30-year-old woman was allegedly strangulated and stabbed 35 times at her house in Sector 18 on Monday night. Forensic experts said a study of the wounds suggest the victim was “tortured”.

The deceased, identified as Ayesha Khatoon, lived with her husband and his second wife, the police said on Tuesday. The incident took place around 9.30pm on Monday when Khatoon was alone at her one-room rented accommodation, the police said, adding that the second wife and her brother, who are both absconding, are key suspects.

According to the cops, her husband was allegedly at his workplace and is being questioned.

“A kitchen knife was used to commit the crime. It was recovered from the crime scene and has been sent for forensic examination. Preliminary investigation suggests that the prime suspect is her husband’s second wife and her brother, who are at large,” inspector Chander Parkash, SHO of the Sector 17/18 police station, said. He added that that the wives shared an acrimonious relationship and did not get along with each other.

“The body has 35 cuts, including many superficial ones and a few deep cuts, possibly inflicted with a kitchen knife or small screwdriver. The manner of killing suggests the victim was tortured,” said Dr Deepak Mathur, forensic expert at Civil Hospital, Gurugram. Police said that Khatoon, who had polio, and her husband were married for a decade but did not have children, but the man had children from his second wife. “The role of the husband is also being investigated,” Singh said. The police filed a case against the absconding duo under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.