Hardoi woman threatens to expose illicit affair, killed

Lucknow: Police cracked the sensational murder of a 45-year-old woman in Amirta village under Shahabad Kotwali area of Hardoi, arresting a middle-aged villager who allegedly killed her after she threatened to expose his illicit relationship.Accused Ram Niwas was taken into custody and the spade used in the crime was recovered. The disclosure was made during a press conference at the police lines.According to the police, Sridevi (45), a resident of Amirta, was found murdered in a wheat field adjoining her agricultural land on Thursday. Her body bore deep injury marks from below the left ear to the neck, indicating repeated blows with a sharp-edged weapon. Superintendent of police Ashok Kumar Meena constituted multiple teams under the supervision of additional superintendent of police (west) MP Singh to crack the case.During the investigation, Sridevi's two sons revealed that on the day of the incident they were working with their mother in the fields. When they left briefly to fetch food from home, Ram Niwas was the only person present in the adjoining field. Based on their statement, police detained and questioned him.During sustained interrogation, Ram Niwas allegedly confessed to the crime. The police said he developed close relations with Lovely, the sister of Sridevi's sister-in-law. A few days before the murder, Sridevi reportedly caught the two in an objectionable situation and threatened to reveal the affair to the family and villagers.On the day of the incident, Sridevi was planting onions in her field, just a few steps away from where Ram Niwas was working. When she again threatened to expose his relationship, he allegedly attacked her in a fit of rage, striking her three times with a spade. He then dragged the body into a nearby wheat field to conceal it.After the murder, the accused returned home, bathed and was served food but reportedly did not eat. He later joined the crowd gathered at the crime scene to avoid suspicion. The accused was sent to judicial custody.