Mumbai man kills live-in partner, disposes body in suitcase
PTC News Desk: The Mumbai police have cracked the murder case of a woman, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase in Mumbai's Kurla area two days back. Cops have arrested the victim's live-in partner, an official informed on Tuesday.
Askar Manoj Barla (22) was arrested on Monday for allegedly strangling Pratima Pawal Kispatta (25) on Saturday evening on suspicion of having an affair with another person, according to him.
The two were from Odisha and met while returning to their home state from Mumbai during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. He stated that they were currently residing in Mumbai's Dharavi neighbourhood.
"The Mumbai police have solved the murder of the woman whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase in Kurla. Barla was apprehended by a team of the crime branch's Units 5 and 11 as he attempted to flee to his hometown in Odisha," the official said.
According to him, Barla was apprehended by officials from the crime branch's Unit-11 at Thane railway station within 36 hours of lodging a the murder charge.
"Pratima's body stuffed in a suitcase was found on Sunday morning on CST Road bridge at Chembur-Santacruz Road at Kurla West, where Metro project work was going on," the official said.
Barla and Kispatta were from Odisha and lived in nearby villages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they happened to meet on a bus to Odisha during the pandemic and fell in love. He stated that after returning to Mumbai, they began living together in Dharavi.
Pratima worked as a maid while Barla worked in a sweet shop. He claims she has been at home for the last few months.
"Barla suspected his live-in partner was having an affair with another person, which resulted in altercations," DCP (Detection) Raj Tilak Roshan said at a press conference.
On Saturday evening, they had a fight, after which Barla strangled her and killed her. According to Barla, after her murder, he decided to dispose of her body by stuffing it in a suitcase.
- With inputs from agencies
