MEERUT: A Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constable was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly conspiring with his brother in the murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman in UP.
The accused has been identified as 31-year-old Ankit.
He is the latest person to be arrested in connection with the murder of Lalita Gautam, news agency PTI reported.
His brother, Ankush Kumar, had earlier been arrested for allegedly killing Gautam following an argument.
According to police, Gautam’s father approached TP Nagar Police Station on May 16 and reported that his daughter was missing.
Her body was found the next day in a forested area near Upsiya village.
Based on a complaint filed by her father, an FIR was registered against Ankush Kumar on charges of murder.
Police arrested him on May 18 on the basis of CCTV footage and other evidence, PTI reported.
Police also said that although Gautam’s father alleged her body had been disfigured using a chemical, the post-mortem examination did not support the claim.
During the investigation, police found that Ankit, who was on leave from the PAC at the time of the incident, was present at the crime scene and had allegedly conspired with his brother and helped destroy evidence.
According to police, Ankit had availed leave from May 11, claiming that his wife was pregnant and expected to deliver on May 15.
However, witnesses and villagers disputed this claim.
Investigators said Ankit returned to his village on May 11, the same day Gautam wrote a letter expressing fear for her life.
The probe further revealed that Ankit was upset over an earlier dispute involving Gautam and his brother.
The Kalyanpur village resident has been booked under sections related to murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Courtesy : TOI
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