West Bengal Man Murders Wife Over Infidelity Suspicions, Arrested While Fleeing Kerala

Kottayam authorities have apprehended a man from West Bengal for allegedly murdering his wife and concealing her body near an unfinished construction site in Ayarkunnam, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Soni SK from Dharapara in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

Employed as a construction worker in Ayarkunnam, Soni was detained at a railway station in Ernakulam while apparently attempting to escape to his hometown.

Authorities have charged Soni with the murder of his 28-year-old wife, Alpana Khathoon, also from Murshidabad, and burying her remains near an incomplete house in Ayarkunnam where both were employed.

Police reports indicate that Soni filed a missing person report on October 17, claiming his wife had disappeared three days prior.

In his testimony, Soni stated that Khathoon had joined him for grocery shopping around 8 am on October 14, but was missing when he returned from work at approximately 6:30 pm.

Investigators became suspicious when they noted he waited three days before reporting her disappearance.

Surveillance footage from the vicinity showed no evidence of the woman, leading to a deeper investigation.

When summoned for questioning on Saturday at 4 pm, Soni failed to cooperate and reportedly attempted to flee to West Bengal via Ernakulam with his two children.

Following a tip-off, police intercepted him and escorted him back to Ayarkunnam for further interrogation.

Officials revealed that Soni admitted to killing Khathoon at their workplace by strangling her and subsequently striking her head with an iron rod on the morning of October 14.

He allegedly buried her body near their workplace, according to police statements.

Investigators determined that Soni murdered Khathoon based on suspicions of infidelity.

Around 3 pm, officers accompanied Soni to the burial location.

Authorities recovered the body after excavating the area, police confirmed.

After completing necessary procedures at the crime scene, the suspect was transferred to the police station where his arrest was officially recorded.

He will appear before the court as part of standard remand procedures, police added.