The body was discovered two days after the killing, with the woman’s face crushed and no belongings that could assist police. Panagar police station in-charge Vipin Tamrakar said the absence of a mobile phone, documents, or CCTV footage made identification nearly impossible. The murder case was registered immediately, and the autopsy revealed severe head and neck injuries.
Investigators initially searched missing-person records from across Madhya Pradesh, but none of the 510 listed cases matched the victim. Police then relied on tattoos found on her hands and feet, which suggested she might belong to a tribal region. Teams were dispatched to Dindori, Mandla, Kundam, and Khamaria, but no leads surfaced.
As the probe stalled, police turned to AI-based facial reconstruction to enhance the damaged photograph. Posters of the digitally restored image were circulated across more than 500 locations. Residents of Nibhaura eventually recognized the woman as Phoolbai, a widow who received a monthly pension and owned a small plot of land.
ASP Jitendra Singh said investigations then focused on her nephew, Tulsi Kewat, who had been living with her in Panagar. During questioning, he confessed to killing her on November 14 after she refused to transfer her land to him. Police said Kewat followed her as she walked toward her brother’s village, pushed her into a pit, strangled her, and crushed her face with a brick to prevent identification.
Kewat was produced in court and sent to jail. Police said the case underscores the growing role of AI technology in aiding criminal investigations where conventional evidence is scarce.
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