Anuppur man arrested for beating wife to death on Diwali night in Lakhanpur village

A woman died after a quarrel with her husband on Diwali night in Lakhanpur village, under the Kotwali police station area of Anuppur district. Police say her husband, Rambhuwan Baiga, beat Rinki to death. Her post-mortem was conducted on Tuesday in the presence of her maternal family, and the body was then handed over to her relatives.

According to police, Rambhuwan suspected his wife and did not let her go out of the house. Station in-charge Praveen Sahu also said the accused suspected his wife. On Diwali night the two argued over cooking. Rinki said she could not cook because she was busy looking after their young child. The husband slapped her over this.

Police said that, distressed by the beating, Rinki told her husband, "You beat me a lot, now I will leave the house." She then phoned her parents and told them about the incident. Rambhuwan became enraged on seeing this. He snatched the mobile phone from her and switched it off. When she spoke of complaining to her parents' family, he began beating her again. According to police, the accused beat his wife with kicks, punches and a stick.

Injury marks were found on several parts of her body. She had serious head injuries and the heel bone of her right foot was also broken. A preliminary examination by doctors also found injuries on many parts of the body. She is reported to have died of the serious head injury.

According to police, the accused did not flee after the incident and slept at home that night. On Monday at about 11 am, the couple's one-year-old son began crying from hunger. Hearing him, the woman's husband's elder brother's wife, who lives nearby, came to the room and found Rinki lying dead, with the child crying beside his mother. She picked up the child and woke Rambhuwan. The sarpanch and villagers were then informed.

The couple married in 2021. They have a one-year-old son, and the husband works as a mason. Villagers told police they had heard the sounds of the couple's quarrel and beating on the night of the incident.

Police reached the spot on Monday morning after being informed and began an investigation. The post-mortem was held on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of the woman's maternal family. Her in-laws had no objection, so police handed the body to her parents. Police registered a case of unnatural death (marg) and began an inquiry. The accused husband has been arrested and medically examined. Police are questioning him and will take further action.