UP man kills ex-partner, chops body into 6 parts

VARANASI: A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a 22-year-old woman whose dismembered body was recovered from various locations in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh last week, police officials said.

The accused, Prince Yadav, was arrested after an encounter with police on Sunday and has confessed to the crime, the officials said. Search is on for eight others who were also allegedly involved in the crime.

Providing details, Azamgarh SP Anurag Arya said the accused was in a relationship with the woman, Aradhana Prajapati, and killed her after she married someone else in February this year.

The incident came to light after the body of the woman, who went missing on November 10, was found inside a well in Paschim Patti village, under Ahraula police station, by local residents on November 15.

The woman’s body in six parts was recovered from two locations, the SP said. While the body was found in the well, the skull was recovered from a pond, 6km away from it, he added.

“It was a challenge for the police. Five teams were deputed. Police zeroed in on Prince who was initially detained,” he said.

In a statement on Sunday, police said Prince tried to use a countrymade pistol in order to flee when he was taken to the pond. An encounter broke out and he sustained an injury on his right leg. He was subsequently arrested, the statement said.