Police in Uttar Pradesh have cracked the sensational murder case of a pregnant woman inside a government health department residence in Rudrapur, Deoria district, which took place on October 24. Investigations revealed that a staff nurse posted at the Community Health Center orchestrated her sister-in-law's murder by paying a contract killing amount of Rs 3 lakhs due to insufficient dowry and ongoing family disputes. The deceased woman's sister-in-law, husband, and brother-in-law have all been implicated in the conspiracy. On Tuesday morning, police arrested one of the hired killers following a brief encounter. This marks the first recorded instance of a dowry-related murder involving contract killers in Deoria.
Accused Sister-in-Law Works as Staff Nurse at Rudrapur CHC
The prime accused, Purnima, is a native of Chandbari village under the Sahjanwa police station area in Gorakhpur district and works as a staff nurse in Rudrapur, Deoria. She resides alone in a government quarter located inside the CHC campus and is currently unmarried. Purnima's sister-in-law, Gudiya Devi, wife of Chaman Lal, was five months pregnant. Due to medical accessibility and care, Gudiya had been staying with her sister-in-law at the government accommodation for some days. Gudiya also has a three-year-old daughter, and her maternal home is located in Karhakol village under the Ekouna police station area of Deoria district.
Gudiya Faced Constant Harassment and Assault Over Dowry
According to Gudiya's mother, Lilavati, Purnima Devi held considerable sway in her marital home because the entire family's household expenses were run on Purnima's salary. In-laws frequently assaulted and harassed Gudiya over inadequate dowry demands, matters that Gudiya had repeatedly shared with her family. Although attempts were subsequently made by her maternal family to counsel and reason with the in-laws, their hostile behavior and attitude remained unchanged.
The Murder Deal Was Settled for Three Lakh Rupees
According to Superintendent of Police Abhijit R Shankar, when Gudiya came to stay at her sister-in-law's residence, Purnima, along with the victim's husband and mother-in-law, hatched a sinister plot to eliminate her. Purnima played the central role in the conspiracy. Through an acquaintance named Satya Prakash Yadav, she hired two seasoned criminals, Ram आशीष यादव and Naresh, to kill Gudiya for a sum of Rs 3 lakhs. An advance payment of Rs 2.5 lakhs was handed over beforehand, with the remaining Rs 50,000 agreed to be paid after the execution of the murder. On the night of October 24, both contract killers strangled Gudiya to death inside Purnima's government quarters.
Contract Killer Apprehended Following Leg Encounter
To mask the brutal murder as a robbery gone wrong, Purnima deliberately ransacked the room and reported the incident to the authorities. Based on a formal complaint filed by the deceased's mother, Lilavati Devi, police registered a case of dowry death and domestic violence against Gudiya's husband, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law Purnima. During intensive interrogation, when police pressed Purnima, she confessed to her crime. On Tuesday morning, during a police operation, main accused Ram Ashish sustained a bullet wound to his leg and was apprehended. Superintendent of Police Abhijit R Shankar stated that all involved accused have been arrested and sent to jail, while efforts are underway to track down remaining suspects.
