BERHAMPUR: Gajapati police on Wednesday arrested a 23-year-old woman on the charge of murdering her husband whose decomposed body was recovered from a locked house at Nagarampalli in Paralakhemundi four days back.
Gajapati SP Jatindra Kumar Panda said the accused Haari Meleka was nabbed from a village near Paralakhemundi where she was hiding after killing her 26-year-old husband Jagadish Meleka. The couple hailed from Machakhunti village within Gunupur police limits in Rayagada district.
Panda said Jagadish and Haari came to Paralakhemundi in search of better employment opportunities three months back. They were staying in a rented house at Nagarampalli street. Jagadish used to drive private vehicles.
The couple was quarrelling frequently since the last several days as Jagadish suspected Haari of having an extra-marital affair. On March 5, another fight broke out between the couple and in a fit of rage, Haari attacked Jagadish with a knife and slit his throat. After killing her husband, the woman locked the house, threw the knife in a drain and went to a relative’s house in a nearby village, said the SP.
The next day, Haari shifted to another village and lived in a house by faking her identity. However, she remained in contact with her family members and relatives over phone.
Panda said as Jagadish’s wife was missing after recovery of his body, police suspected her role in the murder. During investigation, police traced the accused by tracking her phone. She was taken into custody. During interrogation, the woman confessed to her crime. Subsequently, police recreated the crime scene by taking Haari to the house where she murdered her husband.
“The accused was arrested and produced in court. Investigation is underway to ascertain if any other person was involved in the murder. Statements of the deceased’s family members have been recorded. Police will question the persons who had given shelter to Haari after she committed the crime,” the SP added.