Kawardha: Woman murders sister-in-law over domestic feud, attempts to frame it as sexual assault

A 33-year-old woman was arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham for killing her sister-in-law and stripping the body to mislead investigators.

In a chilling case of domestic animosity turned violent, the Kawardha police have arrested a woman for allegedly murdering her sister-in-law at a farm in Singarpur village. The accused, identified as Malti Markam, reportedly attempted to stage the crime scene to look like a sexual assault in a bid to divert the police investigation toward an unknown male suspect.

The victim, 32-year-old Belsiya Chhedaiya, was found dead in the Jhonkakhar fields on May 3. Initial observations by the Sahaspur Lohara police suggested a case of rape and murder as the body was found in a semi-nude state with brutal injuries to the head and face. However, forensic analysis and inconsistent evidence at the site soon led investigators back to the victim’s own family.

Dispute over household chores

According to senior police officials, the motive behind the murder was a long-standing bitterness between the two women. Malti had been living at her paternal home for the last five years after separating from her husband due to his alcohol addiction. Sources familiar with the matter said that frequent arguments occurred between Malti and Belsiya regarding daily household chores and the division of family resources.

The friction was not new. Local residents informed the police that the duo had engaged in physical altercations previously. Around six months ago, Malti had allegedly tried to strangulate Belsiya, but the family intervened just in time to prevent a tragedy.

Planned attack in the fields

On the morning of May 3, Malti reportedly tracked Belsiya to the fields where she was working alone. "The accused attacked the victim from behind using a heavy iron tool (locally known as a rapli). Multiple blows were struck to the head, leading to immediate death," a police spokesperson confirmed.

Following the murder, the accused admitted to tearing the victim’s clothes. She told investigators that she had seen similar crime scenarios on social media and news reports, which gave her the idea to frame the incident as a sexual crime by a stranger.

Forensic evidence nails accused

The police team, led by SP Dharmendra Singh, grew suspicious when the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) and Cyber Cell teams found no biological evidence of sexual assault. Recovery of specific items from the spot—including a sickle, broken bangles, and cloth fragments—began pointing toward a struggle involving a female assailant.

"The staging was deliberate but lacked consistency with the medical reports. During sustained interrogation, Malti Markam broke down and confessed to the crime," officials said.

Community in shock

The incident has left the village of Singarpur in shock. Neighbors described the family as hardworking but acknowledged that the internal bickering was a known issue. The police have recovered the murder weapon and the blood-stained clothes of the accused.

Malti Markam has been booked under relevant sections of the BNS (formerly IPC) for murder and destroying evidence. She was produced before a local court on Wednesday and has been sent to judicial remand.

Police call for vigilance

The Kabirdham police have urged citizens to report domestic disputes to the village panchayat or local outposts before they escalate into violence. This case marks the second major incident of domestic-related homicide in the region this month, following a similar violent outburst in Raipur where a man shot his relatives over a marital dispute.

Rewa Administrative Tussle: Rural Dev Staff Protest Against Collector’s ‘Hardline’ Tactics

Tensions rise in Rewa as Panchayat and Rural Development employees threaten indefinite strike over mass suspensions and salary freezes.

The administrative atmosphere in Rewa has hit a boiling point as officers and staff from the Panchayat and Rural Development Department launched a formal protest on Thursday against District Collector Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi’s recent string of disciplinary actions. The friction, which has been building for over a week, saw the department’s United Front submitting a formal memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner, alleging mental harassment and professional intimidation.

Sudden Crackdown Triggers Unrest

The spark for the current standoff lies in a series of high-pressure review meetings conducted by Collector Suryavanshi. In an effort to push Rewa higher in the state’s performance rankings, the district head has been cracking down on delays within flagship schemes. However, the scale of the "accountability" measures—ranging from show-cause notices to the suspension of salaries—has left the ground-level workforce feeling targeted and aggrieved.

Major Schemes Under Scanner

During a marathon review on Wednesday, the Collector expressed sharp dissatisfaction over the slow progress of the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, MGNREGA, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Identifying a lack of momentum, he directed that the salaries of APOs, POs, and AAOs be linked strictly to performance milestones.

The directive didn't stop there; instructions were issued to initiate the termination of a MGNREGA PO’s contract, while the Executive Engineer (RES), SDOs, and several sub-engineers were slapped with show-cause notices. Most notably, the Collector ordered that the salaries of Janpad CEOs be withheld until further notice, a move that sent shockwaves through the local bureaucracy.

Direct Warnings of FIRs

The administration's stance has been unusually firm. Sources familiar with the matter said that during recent deliberations, the Collector warned of filing FIRs in cases where financial irregularities or gross negligence in government fund utilization are detected. He emphasized that the Chief Minister’s priority projects, especially water conservation efforts, would not tolerate any "lethargy." Earlier this week, Prachi Choube, CEO of Janpad Gangev, was issued a notice following complaints of bribery within the housing scheme in her jurisdiction.

Staff Allege Mental Harassment

In response to these directives, the Rural Development Department employees have formed a united front, claiming the working environment has become toxic. "The pressure is unrealistic, and the language used in meetings is often demeaning," a representative from the protesting group stated under condition of anonymity. The memorandum submitted to the Commissioner demands an immediate rollback of what they term "arbitrary" disciplinary actions. The staff has warned that if their grievances aren't addressed, the district will face an indefinite strike, potentially crippling rural welfare services.

Balance of Accountability vs. Morale

While the district administration maintains that strict monitoring is essential for the effective implementation of public schemes, the employees argue that field-level challenges are being ignored in favor of data-driven results. The suspension of Prashant Tiwari, a Clerk Grade-3 in Semariya Tehsil, for negligence in mutation cases, and the strict mandate for staff to not leave headquarters without permission, have further fueled the fire.

What Lies Ahead for Rewa?

As of late Thursday evening, the Divisional Commissioner’s office has acknowledged the memorandum, but no official reconciliation meeting has been scheduled. If the strike proceeds, it could bring crucial rural development projects to a standstill during a critical phase of the Jal Ganga campaign. Local observers believe the state government may need to intervene to bridge the gap between the Collector’s drive for efficiency and the employees' demand for professional dignity.