In a disturbing development, two individuals have been arrested in Uttarakhand in connection with the murder of a 25-year-old woman. The victim, identified as Seema Khatun from Udham Singh Nagar, was found deceased with her body charred on the Haridwar-Najibabad highway on October 18. The police’s investigation has revealed a grim narrative of a crime driven by personal conflict.
According to police reports, Seema Khatun was in a relationship with Salman Khan, a 30-year-old resident of Kashipur. Investigators believe that Salman murdered Seema following a heated argument that occurred inside a truck container on October 17. To cover his tracks and prevent identification, Salman, with the assistance of an accomplice, Mehroonisa (53), allegedly transported Seema’s body to a secluded area near Gazivali. There, they proceeded to set the body on fire after dousing it with diesel.
Superintendent of Police (Crime), Jitendra Mehra, stated, “Seema and Salman were travelling in the truck on October 17 when a quarrel broke out. Salman strangled her to death and, with Mehroonisa’s help, took the body to a secluded plot near Gazivali. They poured diesel over the body and set it on fire to prevent identification.”
The absence of identification documents or immediate clues at the crime scene prompted police to meticulously review CCTV footage from over 300 vehicles that had passed the highway on the day of the incident. This painstaking effort led them to identify a white container truck moving suspiciously in the area, which was subsequently traced back to Udham Singh Nagar.
The investigation also revealed that Mehroonisa was the last person seen with Seema. She was apprehended in Kashipur on October 22. During interrogation, she confessed to aiding Salman in the crime. It is reported that Mehroonisa harbored a personal grievance against Seema, stemming from Seema having previously informed the police about Mehroonisa’s son’s involvement in drug peddling.
Salman Khan was apprehended late Thursday night from Rasiabad, located on the Uttarakhand-Uttar Pradesh border. The vehicle used in the commission of the crime was also recovered.
Both accused have been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103(1) for murder, Section 238(A) for causing disappearance of evidence, and Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy.