Lover Arrested for Murdering Woman

Body Dumped in Suitcase in Mumbai...

A 21-year-old man was arrested by the city crime branch in Mumbai on Monday for allegedly murdering his live-in partner. He is accused of stuffing her body into a suitcase and disposing of it near a construction site on CST-LBS Marg in Kurla on Sunday.

Authorities from units XI and V apprehended Askar Manoj Barla, a native of Odisha, at Thane station just as he was preparing to board a train to his hometown.

The victim was identified as Pratima Kispatta (25), also hailing from Odisha.

"Our initial focus was on identifying the deceased. After circulating her photograph on various channels, her sister recognized her and reached out to us," stated Raj Tilak Roushan, deputy commissioner of police (crime). Subsequent investigations revealed that Kispatta, who had lost her job with a housekeeping firm two months ago, was residing with Barla, employed in a sweet shop in Dharavi. When police visited their residence, Barla was not present. However, by reviewing CCTV footage and tracking his mobile phone, they located him at Thane station.

The police stated that the two individuals became acquainted during their return journey from Odisha to Mumbai amid the Covid-19 lockdown. After returning to Mumbai in July, they began residing together in Dharavi.

According to the police, Barla suspected Kispatta of having an affair, leading to frequent arguments. During interrogation, Barla allegedly admitted that in the early hours of Sunday, during a heated argument, he strangled her in a fit of rage. Subsequently, he placed her body in a suitcase, hired an autorickshaw from Sion, and discarded it on CST-LBS Marg before returning home.

Ghanshyam Nair, senior police inspector of crime branch unit V, mentioned, "The accused initially planned to place the suitcase in an outstation train at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus but changed his mind and dumped it on the road."