One arrested for kidnap and murder

Thane, Jan 12 (UNI) With the arrest of one Santosh Gupta (23), a resident of the powerloom town of Bhiwandi, the Thane police today claimed to have solved the mystery surrounding the kidnapping of two sisters and murder of one of them.

Addressing an impromptu press conference here, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Prashant Burde gave details of the gruesome murder and the involvement of one of the family members in the crime.

Mr Burde said on December 18 last, the two sisters Priyanka (7) and Neelam (9), studying in the Swami Vivekananda School, did not return home from school. A missing complaint was lodged with the Shantinagar Police and search was on for them when police found Priyanka on the Bhiwandi Wada road at Dhondawadavali village, late in the evening.

She came home and told the family members that an unknown person took both of them in a red motor bike and the whereabouts of her elder sister were not known to her.

During the investigations, the name of Santosh, cousin of these girls, figured prominently but, evidence was not available against him. However, police continued the probe and kept a close watch on his movements.

Meanwhile, the highly decomposed body of Neelam was found on the outskirts of Koproli village on the Ganeshpuri road. On the day of the incident Santosh had gone towards Ganeshpuri at around 1900 hrs.

Police arrested him and a further probe revealed that he had committed the murder, Mr Burde said.

After kidnapping the duo, the accused had hit Priyanka on the head and taking her to be dead had dumped her on the roadside bush.

Later, when Santosh found out that Priyanka was alive he threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed anything to anyone and the girl kept her mouth shut throughout, police said.

The accused told police that he could not tolerate the progress of Priyanka's father's business and hence had decided to kill his daughter.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Shintre, who was also present at the press conference, said police would go in for a narco test of the accused.

UNI XR SR SV VC1925