Accused woman had been planning murder for six months; attacked victim while she was sleeping, then slit her throat with a sugarcane-cutting saw

 In a gruesome incident that has sent shockwaves through Chhattisgarh's Balod district, a first wife allegedly murdered her husband's second wife on Monday night, attacking her with a wooden bed leg before slitting her throat with a sugarcane cutter knife. Police have arrested the accused woman.

The incident took place in the Nevrikala village under Balod police station limits. According to police, the accused, Amrit Bai Sahu, was unhappy after her husband Chhimmanlal Sahu (40) brought Dayabai Sonkar (47) into their home about five years ago following a relationship. The two women had been at odds ever since.

Chhimmanlal, who works as a daily wage labourer, had married Dayabai about five years ago. Police said the first wife had grown increasingly resentful as her husband began giving more attention to his second wife.

Police investigation revealed that Amrit Bai had been planning the murder for nearly six months. She had kept the wooden bed leg and the sugarcane cutting saw ready in advance to carry out the crime.

How the crime unfolded

On Monday night, around 11 pm, when all family members had eaten dinner and gone to sleep, Amrit Bai attacked the sleeping Dayabai, repeatedly striking her neck with a wooden bed leg. She then used a sugarcane-cutting saw to slit Dayabai's throat.

After the murder, Amrit Bai left the house and went to the fields, where she changed her blood-stained saree. To avoid raising suspicion, she returned home around 3:30 am.

Body discovered in pool of blood

According to village watchmen Jhageshwar Singh and Chandrakishor Gedam, a relative of the accused came to call them around 4 am. On reaching the spot, they found Dayabai lying dead on the bed, soaked in blood. The entire bedding was drenched in blood. They immediately informed the police.

Forensic team collects evidence

On Tuesday morning, Balod police station in-charge Shishupal Sinha, cyber cell in-charge Dharam Bhuarya, a forensic team and police force arrived at the scene. Investigation revealed that both women lived in separate rooms in the same house.

Police seized the wooden bed leg and the sugarcane-cutting saw used in the murder from the crime scene. The forensic team collected blood samples and other crucial evidence.

Victim's family arrives from Rajnandgaon

After receiving information about the incident, Dayabai's maternal family members arrived in Balod from Rajnandgaon. Following the post-mortem examination, police handed over the body to the family, after which the last rites were performed in Nevrikala village.

The family

Amrit Bai has two sons. Her elder son dropped out after Class 10, while the younger son is in Class 11. Dayabai also has two sons, both of whom are married and have children.

Police statement

Balod police station in-charge Shishupal Sinha said initial investigation revealed that Amrit Bai had been planning the murder for about six months. "She had kept the wooden leg of the cot and the sugarcane cutter aside beforehand for the crime," he said.