An investigation into the murder of a 24-year-old woman in Haryana’s Faridabad has revealed sbhocking details about the case. It has now come to the fore that the victim was allegedly raped by her father-in-law before being strangled to death, according to police officials.

The woman, identified as Tannu, was then buried in a pit outside her home by her in-laws, who later claimed she was missing.

Police said the victim’s mother-in-law has been arrested, and efforts are underway to trace her husband Arun, who remains on the run. The main accused, Bhoop Singh, the father-in-law, has been sent on police remand again for three days.

Police Say Murder Was Pre-Planned

According to a senior investigator, the murder was premeditated and planned as early as April 15. Bhoop Singh confessed during interrogation that the plan was hatched with the involvement of his wife Sonia and son Arun Singh, news agency PTI reported.

As part of the plan, Sonia was sent to attend her niece’s wedding in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, to divert suspicion. On April 21, Arun allegedly spiked the food of both his wife Tannu and sister Kajal with sleeping pills, causing them to fall unconscious in separate rooms.

A senior officer stated that the plan was for Bhoop Singh to carry out the killing alone. He entered Tannu’s room late at night and was preparing to strangle her with a dupatta. However, before committing the murder, he allegedly raped her while she was unconscious. Police said he did not disclose the rape to his wife or son.

Following the assault, Singh called Arun, and the two allegedly carried Tannu’s body to a pit that had been dug in advance on the street outside. They covered the pit with bricks and mud, and told neighbours it was for sewerage work to avoid suspicion.

Investigation Underway

The pit was dug in the presence of Naib Tehsildar Jaswant Singh and Tannu’s body was exhumed. A case has been filed against four members of the in-laws’ family, including Bhoop Singh, Sonia, Arun Singh, and Kajal at the Palla police station.

Tannu, a native of Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district, had been married to Arun Singh from Roshan Nagar, Faridabad, for two years. Her in-laws allegedly concealed the crime for nearly two months by lodging a false missing complaint.

Police say further investigation is underway to arrest the absconding accused and gather more evidence in the case.