Strangled, body burnt to erase identity: Tattoo clue exposes killers; wife among 3 arrested in UP

AGRA: Three people were arrested in Agra district in connection with the alleged murder of a 39-year-old man, who was strangled and then charred to remove evidence. Police claimed that they've solved the crime based on the tattoo on the hand of the deceased.Agra DCP (West) Aditya on Saturday said the matter came to light on April 2 after Shivcharan Singh filed a complaint stating that his brother, Lokendra Singh (39), had gone missing. "A half-burnt body was found the same day, who was identified later as Lokendra," the DCP added. Investigation revealed that Lokendra's wife was allegedly involved in an illicit affair with one of the accused, Mahesh Prajapati (35), a local fruit seller.Police said that Lokendra had recently become aware of the affair, which led the accused, along with the wife, to hatch a conspiracy to eliminate him.On April 1, Mahesh and co-accused Dharmveer took Lokendra to an isolated spot near Saiyyan bridge. The trio reportedly consumed alcohol before the crime took place. DCP Aditya said, "Three accused have been arrested under sections (103) (1) (murder) and 238 (destroying evidence) of BNS. Police have recovered two phones and clothes worn during the crime."