A 24-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly murdered by her husband in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, in a case that has raised serious concerns over domestic violence and dowry-related harassment. The victim, Puja Mondal, who was six months pregnant, was found dead at her residence in the Lenin Nagar area of Garulia.
According to police, her body was discovered wrapped in plastic and hidden under a bed, indicating an attempt to conceal the crime. Authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with the incident, including her husband, Rishi Harichand, his mother, and another family member. A murder case has been registered, and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the crime may have been triggered by a financial dispute. Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family, Puja was allegedly strangled with a cloth after she refused to meet repeated monetary demands from her husband. Police suspect that the accused attempted to hide evidence by placing the body under the bed after the killing.
Family members of the victim have alleged that she had been facing continuous harassment since her marriage, which took place about two years ago. Initially, her family did not accept the relationship, but they later reconciled after learning of her pregnancy. Despite this, they claim that the harassment over money persisted.
On the day of the incident, an argument reportedly broke out between the couple in the morning after Puja refused to give money. When her family was unable to contact her later in the day, they visited her in-laws’ house and, upon finding her missing, informed the police. A search led to the recovery of her body from inside the house.
Relatives also stated that her husband was unemployed and frequently demanded money from her. They alleged that the harassment continued even during her pregnancy, ultimately leading to the fatal incident.
Police have confirmed that all three accused are in custody and that further investigation is underway to establish the full sequence of events and any additional involvement.
