A horrific act of violence has shocked the community of Lenin Nagar in Garulia, West Bengal, after a 24-year-old pregnant woman was found murdered in her home. The victim, identified as Puja Mondal, was six months into her pregnancy when her body was discovered last week. In a gruesome attempt to conceal the crime, the perpetrator had reportedly wrapped the remains in plastic and hidden them beneath a bed within the residence.
Local authorities have moved swiftly in response to the discovery, detaining three individuals in connection with the killing. Among those currently in custody are the victim’s husband, Rishi Harichand, and her mother-in-law. Preliminary investigations conducted by the police suggest that Harichand allegedly strangled his wife to death before attempting to hide her body to evade detection by neighbours and relatives.
The motive behind the brutal killing appears to be rooted in persistent financial demands made by the husband’s family. According to a formal complaint lodged by Puja’s biological family, the young woman was murdered after she refused to provide the suspects with the money they had demanded. Relatives claimed that during the couple’s two-year marriage, Puja was frequently treated as a “bank” by her husband and her in-laws, who pressured her for funds.
The victim’s uncle, Goutam Biswas, shared that the marriage had initially faced strong opposition from Puja’s family. He explained that none of her relatives had accepted the union until news of her pregnancy surfaced, which prompted a tentative reconciliation. However, he noted that Harichand was unemployed and had a history of habitually demanding money from his niece, creating a volatile and abusive domestic environment.
As the community mourns the loss of the young mother-to-be, the West Bengal police have confirmed that a comprehensive investigation into the murder is currently underway. Forensic teams are working to gather further evidence from the crime scene to build a robust case against the accused. The tragedy has once again highlighted the extreme dangers of domestic disputes involving financial exploitation and the urgent need for protection for vulnerable women.
