Residents of Telangana’s Gangapur region were taken aback by a shocking murder incident which transpired recently. A woman and her lover allegedly murdered her husband, and later buried the body in a secluded agricultural field to destroy evidence, as well as evade suspicion, the police reported on Monday.

As per police, the man who was killed had been married to the accused woman for 12 years, and had two children.

Woman developed affair with resident of nearby village

The police said the man who was murdered has been identified as Muthyam Reddy. Tensions had been brewing within the family for the past few months, after his wife Kalpana allegedly developed a relationship with one Gaini Pandari, a resident of Elgoyi village located nearby. The cops said frequent arguments ensued between the couple after Reddy learnt of the affair. Police suspect the accused viewed him as a hindrance to their relationship and hatched a plan to murder him.

Officials aware of the incident said that the duo allegedly killed Reddy and transported his body to an agricultural field located on the outskirts of the village.

Accused dig pit to bury Reddy’s body

To conceal the crime, the accused reportedly used a JCB machine to dig a pit and bury the body secretly. They then covered the pit with soil and stones to erase traces of burial and avoid raising suspicion among locals.

The residents of the area were stunned upon learning about the crime, and villagers termed the incident ‘one of the most disturbing cases’ reported in recent months.

Kalpana approached cops to file missing person complaint

The probe took a dramatic turn after Kalpana herself approached the Khed Police Station on May 18, telling the cops her husband had gone missing. However, during questioning, suspicion fell upon her when the police noted inconsistencies in her statements, coupled with her unusual behaviour. When the police sifted through her call data records, it laid bare repeated communication between Kalpana and Pandari, prompting cops to intensify scrutiny.

The police then detained Pandari for interrogation.

Pandari confesses to crime

Senior police official Venkata Reddy said Pandari allegedly confessed to the chilling crime during questioning, revealing details of the conspiracy and the burial site. Acting upon his disclosure, police teams, accompanied by local administrative officials, initiated legal procedures to exhume the body for post-mortem examination.

The police said they have also launched an in-depth probe to determine whether other persons assisted the accused in executing or concealing the crime.