Chhattisgarh: Former sarpanch held for beheading wife in Dantewada; body found six days later | Raipur News

RAIPUR: A 35-year-old woman whose decomposed, decapitated body was found behind her locked house in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district had allegedly been murdered six days earlier by her husband after the two drank together and quarrelled over his suspicions about her fidelity.The accused, Lakshman Kunjam, a former sarpanch, was arrested on Friday after the body was discovered and has since been remanded in judicial custody.Police said they received information on the morning of July 23 about a strong foul smell emanating from a house in the city Kotwali region. Finding the front door locked, the police entered the premises through the rear and recovered the woman’s decomposed body from the backyard. Crime scene experts and a dog squad were pressed into service as part of the investigation.The deceased was identified as Jhunki Kunjam (35), originally from Burungpal village in Bastar district, who had been living with her husband in Katiyarras for the past few months.During the investigation, police learnt that the couple frequently quarrelled as Lakshman suspected his wife’s character. Based on circumstantial evidence and local inquiries, investigators tracked him down and arrested him from the Gondpal area.According to police, the couple consumed country liquor together on the evening of July 17 after Jhunki returned home with a bottle of liquor. An argument broke out while they were intoxicated, following which Lakshman took her behind the house and slit her throat with a kitchen knife, severing her head before fleeing the spot.

The murder remained undetected for nearly six days until neighbours noticed the stench from the house and alerted the police.Lakshman’s first wife had died several years ago, and he had later married Jhunki. He has four children from his first marriage, who were not at home at the time of the incident, police said.A case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After his arrest, the accused was produced before a local court and remanded in judicial custody.