9 yrs on, man wanted for wife’s murder lands in police dragnet

The police arrested a man, who murdered his wife around nine years ago, from a village in Bihar, officials said on Monday. The accused has been identified as Sunil Kumar, alias Shailendra Kumar Raut.

The accused slit his wife’s throat and stuffed her body in a plastic bag in October, 2016. His landlord noticed foul smell and informed the police about the incident.

The police said the accused fled with his four-year-old daughter after committing the crime. He was carrying a cash reward of Rs 25,000 on his head.

During investigation, the brother of the deceased suspected the role of her husband in her death. Intelligence and local sources led the police to Bihar and he was finally arrested.

“During interrogation, the accused confessed to the murder. Sunil stated that he married the victim with whom he had an affair. However, frequent quarrels strained their relationship. In a fit of rage, he decided to slit her throat and attempted to dispose of the body. However, he fled the spot, taking his daughter along,” said a police official.

The official said to evade arrest, he avoided using mobile phones to prevent tracking and changed hideouts three-four times.

“Initially, he hid across Delhi, Faridabad and Patna, working at railway stations and in shoe manufacturing units. Later, fearing detection, he shifted to Shekhupur, Bihar. The authorities concerned have been informed regarding his arrest,” the official said.