A 34-year-old labourer allegedly killed his girlfriend inside a hotel room in Ghaziabad and slept next to her body before calling the police the following morning, officers said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Praveen Kumar, a resident of Seva Nagar in Nandgram, was taken into custody after a post-mortem examination revealed that the woman had suffered fatal internal injuries. The victim, Aarti, was found dead in a room at Hotel New Royal King in Patel Nagar.
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According to police, Kumar checked into the hotel with Aarti on Saturday night. He dialled the emergency helpline (112) around 7 am on Sunday, claiming that his partner was unwell. When a police team reached the hotel, Aarti was found dead on the bed.
As per a Times of India report, Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Dhawal Jaiswal said the autopsy showed that the woman died due to shock and haemorrhage caused by ante-mortem injuries. āShe had multiple rib fractures, ruptured lungs and liver, and extensive internal bleeding in the chest and abdominal cavity. The injuries clearly point to a brutal physical assault,ā he said.
Argument escalated after suspicion of infidelity
Investigators said Aarti was a widow who lived in Ghaziabad with her 16-year-old son. Kumar was known to the family and had been a friend of her late husband.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Upasana Pandey said Kumar told investigators that he had been in a relationship with Aarti for about one-and-a-half years. The two checked into the hotel around 10 pm on Saturday and consumed alcohol and food in their room.
During questioning, Kumar claimed that an argument broke out after he suspected Aarti of being in contact with another man. The dispute allegedly escalated into violence after she slapped him. Police said Kumar admitted to repeatedly hitting her on the ribs with his fists and elbows.
Accused slept in the room till morning
The assault allegedly occurred around midnight. Aarti lost consciousness and collapsed on the bed. Kumar claimed he tried to wake her but received no response. He then remained in the room and later fell asleep beside her body.
When he woke up in the morning and found her unresponsive, Kumar allegedly tried to leave the hotel with his belongings without informing the staff. Hotel employees stopped him at the gate, after which he claimed that his companion was unwell and that he was going to buy medicines.
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Staff members checked the room and found Aarti unresponsive. They then asked Kumar to alert the police.
Police said Kumar initially claimed that both were intoxicated and that he could not recall the events of the night. However, officers said the autopsy findings contradicted his version. āThere were no visible external injuries, but the internal damage was extensive,ā an officer said.
An FIR has been registered against Kumar under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 103 (murder). Forensic evidence has been seized from the hotel room, and CCTV footage from the premises is being examined. Further investigation is under way.
