Shocking honour killing in Waluj: Mother strangles 21-year-old daughter over love affair

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A harrowing incident has come to light in the Waluj MIDC area, where a mother allegedly strangled her 21-year-old daughter with a plastic pipe because she opposed the girl’s romantic relationship. After the murder, the family attempted to wrap the body in a mattress and transport it to their village to destroy the evidence. However, the plot was foiled near the Tisgaon square bridge due to the alertness of the police. Following a post-mortem report confirming death by strangulation, a murder case has been registered against three individuals. The deceased has been identified as 21-year-old Nandini Raju Dhivare.

According to the FIR filed by assistant police inspector Arvind Rustumrao Shinde of the MIDC Waluj Police Station, the discovery was made on the night of February 19. While on duty for Shiv Jayanti security, the 'Dial 112' team received information about a rickshaw near the bridge carrying a mattress and household goods under suspicious circumstances. Upon reaching the spot, police found a woman and a man standing next to a plastic drum and a mattress tightly bound with rope. When questioned, they claimed to be heading to their village; however, their unsatisfactory answers prompted the crime detection team to inspect the mattress. Inside, they found the unconscious body of a young woman, aged approximately 20 to 22. She was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where a medical officer on duty declared her dead on arrival.

The investigation and motive

The preliminary post-mortem conducted the following day confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation. This intensified suspicions of foul play and shifted the direction of the investigation.

Investigations revealed that Nandini was in a relationship with a young man from Kannad and was insisting on marrying him. However, her mother, Bharti Umesh Sable (35), was vehemently opposed to the match. Police reported that the mother and daughter had been frequently arguing over the matter for the past few days.

On the afternoon of February 19, while the two were alone at home, another argument broke out. It is alleged that while Nandini was in the bathroom preparing for a bath, her mother strangled her using a plastic pipe. Following the murder, Bharti informed her husband, Umesh Govind Sable (42), and her brother, Amol Gaikwad.

The attempt to destroy evidence

The three suspects wrapped the body in a mattress, tied it with rope, and planned to take it to their village to dispose of it. They hired a rickshaw at around 9 pm; however, the driver became suspicious and dropped them off with their belongings at the Tisgaon square bridge before leaving. It was at this moment that the police, acting on a tip-off, intervened and uncovered the crime.

Cases have been registered against Bharti Sable, Umesh Sable, and Amol Gaikwad, and further investigations are underway. This incident has caused a massive stir in the Waluj area, leaving the community shocked by the extreme consequences of a domestic dispute.

Summary of key facts

How were they planning to dispose of the body?

After the murder, the mother called her husband and brother. Together, they wrapped the body in a mattress and bound it tightly. Their plan was to take the body to their field in the Kannad area and bury it secretly to erase all traces of the crime. They attempted to pass off the body as household luggage in a rickshaw, but the driver’s suspicion and prompt police action foiled their plan.

A fatal decision over a love affair

The deceased was in a relationship with a youth from Kannad and was adamant about marriage. Her mother’s opposition led to ongoing domestic conflict. In a fit of rage during an argument, the mother reportedly took the extreme step of strangling her daughter with a plastic pipe.