A 25-year-old woman was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances at her residence in Nandodih village, falling under the Jaynagar police station limits in Koderma district on Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Archana Pandit, had been married since 2020 and was the mother of two daughters.
Body Found with Neck Marks
Archana was found lifeless inside the bathroom of her home, with visible marks around her neck, prompting immediate suspicion of foul play. Vikar Kumar, the officer-in-charge of Jaynagar police station, confirmed that the body has been sent to Koderma Sadar Hospital for postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Family Disputes and Dowry Allegations
Archana's brother, Anil, stated that she was married to Santosh Pandit in 2020 and the couple had two daughters. He noted that the marriage was peaceful until disputes emerged a few months ago. However, Archana's father, Basudev Pandit, leveled serious allegations, claiming that Santosh and his parents, Suresh and Jirwa Devi, had been harassing his daughter for a dowry of Rs 2 lakh. He further alleged that Archana was pregnant with her third child at the time of her death.
Suspicious Phone Call
According to the family, they received a phone call early Wednesday morning informing them that Archana had died after a fall. However, upon arriving at the house and observing rope marks on her neck, they suspected murder and immediately informed the police. An FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the law, and an investigation is underway, as confirmed by Superintendent of Police Kumar Shivashish.
Police Investigation Underway
Speaking to the Times of India, SP Shivashish stated that raids are being conducted to apprehend the accused, who are currently absconding. He emphasized that the police are probing the case from all possible angles and that anyone found involved in the crime will not be spared. The postmortem report is awaited to provide further clarity on the circumstances of the death.
