Bengaluru Horror: Hindu Woman Found in Pieces, Stuffed in Fridge; Police Hunt for Boyfriend Ashraf.

Gruesome Murder in Bengaluru: Hindu Woman Found in Fridge, Cut into 30 Pieces, Muslim Boyfriend on the Run.

The police suspect death could have taken place a fortnight ago as the body parts in ‘30 pieces’, stuffed in a fridge, were highly decomposed. According to the victim’s estranged husband, she was in a relationship with one Ashraf. He suspected his role in the crime, adding that several months prior, Mahalakshmi had gone to the Seshadripuram police station and submitted a blackmail complaint against Ashraf.

B Upendran  | HENB | Bengaluru  | Sept 24, 2024:: On Saturday, a chilling incident unfolded in Bengaluru’s Vyalikaval area, where a 29-year-old Hindu woman, living alone in a house at Vinayaka Nagar, was brutally murdered, dismembered, and her body parts secretly stored in the refrigerator.

The deceased, identified as 29-year-old Mahalakshmi from Nelamangala, was employed at a local mall and had been renting the house in Vinayaka Nagar, Vyalikaval, for five months. Neighbors reported that Mahalakshmi shared the residence with a partner, suggesting a live-in relationship. Investigating authorities suspect the murder occurred approximately two weeks prior, given the advanced decomposition of the body parts, which had attracted worms.

This gruesome discovery eerily echoes the shocking Mehrauli murder case, in which Aftab Amin Poonawala brutally killed his partner, Shraddha Walkar, dismembering her body into 35 pieces on May 18, 2022.

The Bengaluru murder came to light after a neighbor reported a strong foul odor emanating from the locked house, prompting police investigation. Authorities contacted the victim’s family through the house owner and, upon arrival, they discovered the gruesome scene: Mahalakshmi’s body parts, cut into multiple pieces, stored in the refrigerator.

Police and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams scoured the crime scene, recovering Mahalakshmi’s mobile phone, which had been inactive since September 2. Based on the decomposed state of the remains and electronic evidence, investigators suspect Mahalakshmi was murdered and dismembered within the house before being stored in the fridge.

Mahalakshmi, originally from Nepal, was married to Hemanth Das five years ago and had a four-year-old child with him. However, due to marital differences, she left him in Nelamangala and relocated to Bengaluru, where she lived alone in a rented house. She worked as a salesperson at a mall-based store. Although her husband would occasionally visit, Mahalakshmi largely kept to herself, having minimal interaction with neighbors, police stated.

Mahalakshmi’s brother, Sunil, who works at a Koramangala shop, revealed that she had been out of contact for an extended period. ‘I was informed by a relative and came to see her. We hadn’t spoken or met in a long time,’ he told the media.

Her estranged husband, Hemant Das, disclosed that Mahalakshmi was in a relationship with Ashraf. He suspects Ashraf’s involvement in the crime, citing a previous incident where Mahalakshmi filed a blackmail complaint against Ashraf at the Seshadripuram police station several months ago.

A neighbor recalled that Mahalakshmi moved into the building’s first floor five months ago. ‘She kept to herself, rarely staying home or engaging with others,’ the neighbor shared with the media. ‘Her daily routine consisted of leaving around 9:30 a.m. and returning after 10:30 p.m.’ The neighbor also mentioned that a person, claiming to be Mahalakshmi’s brother, stayed with her briefly. ‘We were unaware of her marital status,’ they added.

Police are investigating Mahalakshmi’s workplace to determine why management failed to follow up on her unauthorized absence. Authorities have also identified a frequent visitor who would pick her up and drop her off.

A murder case has been registered based on the complaint, and efforts are underway to locate the suspect. Police are analyzing Mahalakshmi’s call records to track down the male friend, who is currently the prime suspect in the investigation.

Karnataka Home Minister, Dr. G. Parameshwara, has confirmed to NDTV that the suspected murderer in the Bengaluru case is from West Bengal, and the police are working diligently to apprehend the individual by forming specialized teams.

Bengaluru’s gruesome find draws unsettling parallels with Delhi’s 2022 Shraddha Walker case, where Aftab Poonawalla  murdered and dismembered Walker, storing her remains in a fridge before gradual disposal. This new case of Bengaluru has sent shockwaves, fueling fears of another brutal recurrence and highlighting concerns about community safety, crime prevention, and the necessity for heightened awareness.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken swift action regarding the horrific Bengaluru case, where a 26-year-old woman’s body was found chopped into 30 pieces and stored in a fridge. The NCW has directed the state police to expedite the arrest of all involved and ensure a thorough investigation within a specific timeframe, with a detailed report expected within three days.

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__Inputs from NDTV, Rrpublic News and X.