Ambala woman murdered; body moved to Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, burned to destroy evidence

Authorities said a case of murder and destroying evidence has been registered and the accused will be produced before a court with remand sought to uncover conspiracy and motive.

On May 14, police stated that the accused has confessed to the crime and that investigations are underway to determine motive and any further involvement; the murder is described as meticulously planned, with cross-state transport and an attempt to burn evidence to prevent identification.

Police said the investigation found the accused was accompanied by another individual during the transport of the body; authorities are identifying the second person.

During transportation, a cart puller was paid ₹100 to move the bag to the accused's Swift Dzire car parked outside the lane; CCTV footage captured the accused moving up and down stairs with the heavy bag.

Police said the accused allegedly murdered the woman by poisoning her in a rented room in Ambala's Barara, packed the body in a large sack, and disposed of it with the motive of destroying evidence.

Sandeep Kumar, a resident of Janakpuri Colony in Barara, Ambala district, was arrested near Bata Pul area of Paonta Sahib in connection with the case, following a joint operation by Barara police and Sirmour police.

A partially-burnt female body was recovered in forests near a police battalion camp in Poanta Sahib subdivision, Himachal Pradesh, prompting further investigation across Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The 32-year-old woman from Barara left her home to collect her mother's medical reports and subsequently went missing; family members began searching as her phone was switched off. CCTV footage reportedly shows her heading toward an underpass near Barara railway station around the time she disappeared.