Man held a year after he killed wife for chatting with friend on social media

Agra: Over a year after allegedly murdering his wife with an axe and burying her body in a field following an argument over her speaking to a friend on social media, a 25-year-old man was recently arrested in Kasganj district, police said on Friday.Police said victim Priyanka Kumari's (21) mother, Somvati, lodged a complaint against Ravendra Kumar on Wednesday, alleging dowry harassment and her daughter's disappearance. She alleged that Priyanka was subjected to persistent harassment by her in-laws over dowry demands after marriage. The couple had married on Dec 14, 2024.Kasganj additional superintendent of police Sushil Kumar said that on April 14 last year, Priyanka's brother-in-law, Rajesh, informed the family that the couple had gone out for work. "When months passed without any contact, the family grew suspicious," the police officer said.An FIR was registered at Sikandarpur Vaish police station under sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 85 (cruelty by husband or relatives), 140(3) (kidnapping) and 103(1) (murder) of BNS. Ravendra was arrested on Wednesday night.During interrogation, Ravendra allegedly confessed that the argument escalated and he assaulted Priyanka, striking her on the neck with an axe and killing her on the spot. Police said that with the help of his father, Chhote Lal, he wrapped the body in a bedsheet, stuffed it into a plastic sack, transported it in a bullock cart and buried it in an agri field.Ravendra went absconding the next day, while family members misled Priyanka's relatives by claiming the couple had left home.Following his arrest, Priyanka's body was exhumed, and the murder weapon was recovered from Ravendra's house.