A shocking murder case has come to light in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district, where a 58-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death, and her body was hidden inside a house for several days before being buried near an under-construction Anganwadi building. Police have arrested three accused, including the victim's son, following an investigation into the crime.

The incident was reported from the Dokda police outpost area, where the victim, identified as Harawati Bai, had been living with her son, Bhushan Ram.

Affair and Land Dispute Behind Murder

According to police, Harawati Bai had a long-running land dispute with her neighbour Shyampati Bai. Investigators also found that Bhushan Ram had been in a relationship with Shyampati Bai for nearly five years.

Police said an argument over the land dispute on the night of July 24 allegedly escalated, following which Shyampati Bai and her mother, Budhmati Bai, strangled Harawati Bai to death.

Body Hidden, Later Buried

Investigators said the accused initially kept the body inside the house to conceal the crime.

The following day, Shyampati Bai allegedly informed Bhushan Ram about his mother's death and asked him not to disclose the incident to anyone. Police claimed the son remained silent and later assisted the two women in disposing of the body.

After several days, when the decomposing body began emitting a foul smell, the three allegedly shifted it during the night and buried it under sand near an under-construction Anganwadi building in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Foul Smell Led to Discovery

The crime came to light on July 30, when local residents noticed a strong foul smell coming from Harawati Bai's locked house and informed the police.

A police team, accompanied by forensic experts and a revenue official, searched the area and recovered a woman's body buried in sand near the construction site. The body was later identified as Harawati Bai.

Son's Conduct Raised Suspicion

During the investigation, police found Bhushan Ram's behaviour suspicious, as he had remained away from the house and was absent during his mother's last rites.

Interrogation reportedly revealed details of his relationship with Shyampati Bai and the alleged sequence of events following the murder. Based on his statement, investigators reconstructed the crime and gathered further evidence.

Police also recovered the spade and other materials allegedly used to bury the body.

Three Sent to Judicial Custody

Based on forensic findings, witness statements, recoveries and the accused persons' statements, police arrested Shyampati Bai, Budhmati Bai and Bhushan Ram.

All three were produced before a local court and have been remanded to judicial custody as further investigation into the case continues.