India: Woman's body, chopped into 30 pieces, found in fridge while tracing foul smell

Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.

In a case that is starkly similar to Shraddha Walker's brutal killing by her live-in partner Aftab Poonawalla in 2022, a26-year-old woman's dead body was found chopped in 30 pieces and kept inside a fridge in an apartment in Vyalikaval localityof Bengaluru, said the police.

The neighbours had complained about the foul smellcoming from the house, which they believed was emanating from rotten food.

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When the police reached the location on Saturday (Sep21), they found chopped body parts of a woman stashed inside the fridge. Additional Commissioner of Police (West), Satish Kumar, said that they have identified the body.

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Speaking to a news agency, Additional Commissioner of Police (West Zone) N Satheesh Kumar said, "A woman's body was found chopped into pieces and stored in a fridge at a house within theVyalikaval police stationlimits. It appeared to have been done 4-5 days ago. The body has been identified. The probe is going on. We will give more information after the investigation. She was settled in Karnataka but is originally from another state."

"We will give more information after an initial investigation. She had been living in Bengaluru, though she originally belonged to another state," said Kumar.

"It is a one-BHK house within Vyalikaval police station limits. The body of the 26-year-old girl was found cut into pieces and stored in a refrigerator. Prima facie, the incident did not occur today... We have identified the girl, but let us complete the initial investigation," he added.

Who was the woman found hacked in pieces?

As per the report, the woman was 29 years old and belonged to Jharkhand.

The body was first found by the victim's landlord, who had entered the flat to figure out the cause and source of the foul smell that was troubling neighbours for more than two days.

The police identified the woman as Mahalakshmi, the wife of Hemant Das. She used to live alone in the flat and her body was found in the 165-litre refrigerator.

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When the neighbours informed Jayaram, who is the owner of the flat, he reached the building to check the stench, as reported by The Indian Express.

He found the flat locked from the outside, however, he somehow got entry into the flat even after finding the stench overbearing, after which he discovered dry blood and the dismembered body of the woman.

The woman's husband was living separately with their daughter and is now being questioned by the police.

After facing domestic discord with her husband, the woman had shifted to the flat five months ago. According to the police, the woman was killed around four to five days ago and her mobile was switched off on September 12.

(With input from agencies)