In a chilling case that has shaken the Bastar region, a man in Kondagaon district, along with six accomplices, has been arrested for the alleged cold-blooded murder of his wife and their three-year-old son. Police describe the crime as a pre-planned act motivated by the husband's desperation to avoid paying a court-ordered monthly maintenance of Rs 5,000 to his estranged wife and pressure from his girlfriend.
The Grisly Crime and Investigation
The main accused, Rohit Sethia, is alleged to have strangled his wife Bhagwati Sethia and their minor son on November 24. According to Kondagaon police, Rohit took Bhagwati on the pretext of a trip to Visakhapatnam. On a deserted stretch near the Odisha border, he allegedly executed the murders.
In a bid to destroy evidence, the bodies were disposed of in separate water bodies. Bhagwati's body was tied to stones and thrown into the Indravati river. The body of the child was dumped in a pond in a forested area of neighbouring Odisha.
The crime came to light after the bodies were recovered on December 3. Bhagwati's family had reported her and the child missing since November 20. A month-long investigation, involving analysis of call detail records and tower locations, eventually led the police to Rohit and his associates.
Background of Marital Discord and Harassment
Bhagwati, a resident of Sirpur village, had married Rohit in 2020. The couple had been living with his family after marriage. Police investigation revealed that Bhagwati faced persistent harassment and assault from her in-laws, leading the couple to eventually live separately. A divorce suit was filed.
Amid this discord, Rohit allegedly began an affair with another woman, identified as Basanti. The police probe suggests that Rohit was under pressure from both his family and his girlfriend. The court's order for him to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs 5,000 to Bhagwati appears to have been a key trigger for the extreme step.
Seven Arrests and Ongoing Probe
So far, the police have arrested seven individuals in connection with this "cold, pre-planned double murder." The arrested include:
- Main accused Rohit Sethia
- His girlfriend Basanti
- Rohit's parents – mother Urmila and father Rameshchandra
- Three other alleged accomplices
Further investigation is underway to reconstruct the exact sequence of events, especially the part that occurred in Odisha. Forensic evidence is being collected from the disposal sites, and the precise role of each accused in the conspiracy is being determined.
The case highlights a horrifying instance of domestic conflict escalating into a premeditated crime, shocking the local community and raising serious questions about the safety of women in marital disputes.
