`Murdered' woman returns home; four accused still in jail
Mandsaur, Mar 21 (PTI): A woman believed to have been murdered sometime in September 2023 returned safe to her home in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district a few days ago, even as four men arrested for the supposed killing continue to be in prison.
The story of Lalita Bai (35), resident of Navali village, is stranger than fiction, or a film script.
A case was registered for her `murder' at Thandla town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh in September 2023, days after her family reported that she had gone missing from Gandhi Sagar area of Mandsaur.
Her relatives even identified the body of a woman with her head crushed as Lalita Bai, said Gandhi Sagar police station in-charge Taruna Bharadwaj.
So imagine their surprise when Lalita Bai returned home on March 11, safe and sound.
According to her, she left home on her own with one Shahrukh and travelled to Bhanpura.
There, without her knowledge, he `sold' her to another person, also named Shahrukh, for Rs 5 lakh, Lalita Bai told police.
The second man took her to Kota in Rajasthan, where she stayed with him for nearly 18 months.
"However, as soon as I got the opportunity, I ran away and came back," Lalita told PTI Videos.
"I do not have a mobile phone, so I was unable to contact my family members," she said.
"After we had filed a missing person report, Thandla police informed us about the recovery of a woman's body with her head crushed. We went there and identified it as the body of our daughter on the basis of a tattoo and a black string tied around her leg. We performed the last rites too," Lalita's father Nanuram Banchhada said.
Police, meanwhile, arrested four men including Shahrukh who had allegedly lured her away.
After her return, her father took her to the Gandhi Sagar police station, and informed the officials that she was very much alive.
Gandhi Sagar police then informed their counterparts in Thandla about the development.
As to the fate of the four men who are in prison, it is for the Thandla police to take necessary action, said Mandsaur Superintendent of Police Abhishek Anand.
Jhabua SP Padmavilochan Shukla told PTI that the local court has sought information about the matter.
"We will first conduct a medical examination and DNA test of the woman, and also record afresh the statements of witnesses," he said.
Only after a thorough investigation the police would be able to state conclusively that the woman who turned up at Gandhi Sagar police station earlier this month is the same woman who was thought to have been murdered, Shukla said.
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Minister Madhu Bangarappa invites JDS MLA to join Congress during public event
Shivamogga: Shivamogga District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa performed a Gudali Puja on Sunday for the development of Barehalla and Hi Hole Dams in the taluk, along with road development work in Puradalu village.
At the program, Madhu Bangarappa extended an invitation to JDS MLA Sharada Pooryanayaka to join the Congress party, using an English proverb to make his point.
"Sharada Pooryanayaka loves me very much. But when elections come, it becomes very difficult. Now we have power. That is why I am calling her to join our party. Our father always said that when it is hot, we should dry the grass. Now that it is hot, my sister should make a decision," he said, extending an open offer to the JDS leader.
Bangarappa emphasized that providing facilities for the Sharavati flood victims is the government's duty. He noted that the dam built for these victims in Puradalu village was damaged due to excessive rainfall. To address this, he announced the launch of development work worth Rs. 3 crore, fulfilling his previous promises.
He stated that while the government is allocating funds for guaranteed schemes, it is also ensuring grants for developmental projects. "As a minister, I am responsible for providing quality education to children. I am working with great emphasis on education. Since the education department is vast, everyone is cooperating," he said.
The minister urged parents to ensure their children's education is not disrupted due to frequent holidays. He also mentioned that a facial attendance system is being considered to monitor school attendance more effectively.
Instead of focusing on building large temples in villages, he stressed the importance of constructing bigger schools, stating that "If schools are built big, God will bless them."
MLA Sharada Pooryanayaka stated that priority is being given to the development of villages in the Sharavati floodplain area. She also acknowledged the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and thanked District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa for securing funds for the Barehalla and Hi Hole Dam development.
Puradalu Gram Panchayat Vice President H.S. Pradeep delivered the introductory remarks.
The event was attended by Congress District President R. Prasanna Kumar, State Bhovi Development Corporation President S. Ravikumar, Guarantee Schemes Authority District President Chandrabhupal, and Congress leaders Kalgodu Ratnakar, G.D. Manjunath, Dr. Srinivas Karianna, Y.H. Nagaraj, as well as Puradalu and Agasavalli Gram Panchayat Presidents and members.
