Man kills wife, sleeps next to body for a week in Purnia

A 40-year-old man allegedly killed his wife for dowry and kept her body at home for about a week before foul smell started emanating from the rotting body, prompting his neighbours and relatives to call the cops. The accused, a resident of Dhamdaha in Purnia, was arrested on Wednesday.

Md Nasim, a medical representative, allegedly strangled his wife, Shahida Khatun, 22, at his rented house in Maulvi Tola under Town police station of the district. He even slept next to the body during the period, police said.

Police said the incident came to light when Md Sabir Alam, brother-in-law (elder sister’s husband) of the victim, went to meet them on Tuesday evening, after his phone calls to them remained unanswered.

As soon as Alam entered Nasim’s house, he felt some foul smell emanating from a room. Suspecting foul play, he immediately called the police. When police broke open the door they found Shahida’s body lying on a bed and Nasim sleeping next to her. He had burnt highly fragrant incense sticks to hide the stench.

Police said that the couple, who got married just two months back, had a fight some days ago over dowry demands, following which she was killed.

Purnia superintendent of police Vishal Sharma said, “The accused has been arrested and police are probing the case from various angles. The body has been handed over to the family after postmortem.”

Shahida’s father, Atik Ansari, 60, a resident of Khareek in Bhagalpur, said, “We had borrowed Rs 20,000 on high interest to meet Nasim’s demand of dowry and assured him of paying off the same, but he killed my daughter.”

Courtesy: Hindustan Times