Eastern Eye (UK)

Shock as details of alleged gruesome murder come to light

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DELHI police claimed to have solved a six-month-old murder case, and arrested a man for allegedly killing his 27-year-old live-in partner, chopping her body into pieces, and disposing of the body parts in places around the national capital.

Officials said the accused, identified as Aftab Poonawalla, 28, and the victim, Shraddha Walker, met while working at a call centre in Mumbai. They fell in love, and when their families refused to accept their relationsh­ip, the couple moved to Delhi and rented an apartment in the Chhatarpur area, Mehrauli police told reporters.

Aftab allegedly killed her when she started insisting they get married, officers said.

On May 18, the couple had a fight, and Aftab strangled her in a fit of rage. He then chopped her body into 35 pieces, bought a refrigerat­or, and kept them in it, the police said. They added that he later started disposing of the body pieces at different locations in and around Delhi during the night for the next 18 days.

The matter came to light when her family had not heard from Shraddha for a while. They also checked her social media accounts and found no updates during this period. This raised suspicion, after which her father, Vikas – a resident of Palghar in Maharashtr­a – came to Delhi to check on his daughter, and found that her flat was locked.

He contacted the police and lodged a missing person complaint. He also told them about his daughter’s relationsh­ip with Aftab, and said he suspected his involvemen­t in his daughter’s disappeara­nce. On the basis of his complaint, the police launched an investigat­ion, traced Aftab, and arrested him. During questionin­g, he confessed to the crime and said they often fought as Shraddha was pressurisi­ng him for marriage, officials said.

A case has been registered against Aftab, and the police investigat­ion is continuing.

 ?? ?? TRAGIC STORY: Shraddha Walker
TRAGIC STORY: Shraddha Walker

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