Sambhal, Dec 23: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have arrested a woman and her alleged lover for the murder of her husband, whose dismembered torso was found inside a black bag earlier this month, officials said.

The case surfaced on December 15 when Chandausi Kotwali police recovered a severely decomposed torso, missing the head and limbs, from behind an Idgah on Patroua Road. The condition of the body initially made identification difficult.

During forensic examination, police noticed a tattoo bearing the name “Rahul” on the body, providing the first lead. Investigators then checked missing persons records and found that a complaint had been filed on November 24 by Ruby, reporting her husband Rahul missing. The complaint had been lodged at the same police station.

Ruby was called in for questioning and asked to identify the clothes recovered with the body. Police said she denied that the remains belonged to her husband. However, officers noted inconsistencies in her statements, prompting further investigation.

A breakthrough came when police examined Ruby’s mobile phone. Officers found photographs showing Ruby with a man later identified as Gaurav, wearing a T-shirt that matched the one recovered from the body. When confronted with this evidence, Ruby confessed to the crime, police said.

According to her statement, Ruby had called Gaurav to her house on the night of November 17–18. Rahul returned home during the early hours and an altercation followed, during which Ruby struck him on the head with a heavy object, killing him.

Police said Ruby and Gaurav later used a cutter machine to dismember the body. The head and limbs were dumped into the Ganga river near Rajghat, while the torso was disposed of behind the Idgah.

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Investigators recovered the cutter machine and other evidence from the house. Both accused have been arrested, and efforts are underway to recover the remaining body parts and complete forensic procedures, police said.

This horrific incident comes when Uttar Pradesh logged the highest number of murder cases in India, while overall cases of murder in the country are on a decline.

According to the latest NCRB 'Crime In India' report, in 2023, as many as 27,721 cases of murder leading to 28,587 deaths were registered. In 2022, 28,552 cases of murder, resulting in 29,356 deaths, were registered.

As per the report, Uttar Pradesh recorded highest number of murder cases, with 3,206 incidents and 3,307 victims, followed by Bihar (2,862 cases and 2,882 victims) and Maharashtra (2,208 cases and 2,274 victims).