Jhansi, Jan 19: Jhansi police have launched a manhunt for a retired railway employee who allegedly murdered his 35-year-old live-in partner and attempted to incinerate her body inside a metal trunk.
The incident surfaced late Saturday night after a suspicious loader driver alerted authorities about a heavy container being transported under unusual circumstances.
The accused, identified as Ram Singh Parihar, reportedly killed the victim, Preeti Parihar, following a series of financial disputes.
Investigators noted that the suspect allegedly burned the body within a blue metal trunk around January 8 and later disposed of the ashes in a nearby river to eliminate evidence.
“The matter came to light when Parihar hired a loader to move the trunk to his second wife’s residence,” a police official said.
He mentioned that the loader driver, Jai Singh Pal, became wary of the trunk’s weight and the panicked behavior of the men involved, prompting him to call the police control room.
Forensic teams were summoned to the scene after officers forcibly opened the container and discovered charred bone fragments and human remains.
Neighbors told investigators that Parihar had been gathering large quantities of firewood for days, though the resulting smell was dismissed as a common effort to stay warm during the winter.
“A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the victim’s former husband,” police said.
They noted that the accused remains at large, while his son and several associates who assisted in moving the trunk are under investigation.
