Haryana Police on Monday arrested a “friend” of Congress worker Himani Narwal for allegedly strangling her after a fight at her home and later dumping her body in a suitcase. Himani's body was found stuffed in a suitcase in Rohtak on Saturday, leading to the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the murder.
Addressing a press conference, State Additional DGP KK Rao said the accused, Sachin (30) alias Dhillu, hails from Jhajjar’s Kherpur village, and was arrested from Mundka area in Delhi. Sachin is married and has two children. He runs a mobile repair shop in Jhajjar’s Kanaunda village.
The accused was in contact with the woman through social media for over a year and also used to visit her home, said Rao. “On February 28, Sachin engaged in a scuffle with Himani at her house in Vijay Nagar locality in Rohtak city. Sachin tied Himani’s hands with a dupatta and strangled her with the wire of a mobile charger. “In a bid to conceal his crime, he packed her body in a suitcase, removing a quilt stained with blood. He then stole her gold jewellery, mobile, laptop, and other valuables, before leaving her house,” said the officer.
Rao maintained that the accused, after taking Himani’s scooter, drove to his shop in Kanaunda and returned around 10 pm to dispose of the body. He then hired an autorickshaw and travelled with the suitcase containing the body, passing through the Delhi bypass and reaching Sampla, where he dumped it near the bus stand.
Himani resided at her house alone while her mother and younger brother live in Delhi.
Another Police officer said, “We will produce the man before the court and seek his remand to ascertain the reasons behind the gruesome murder. Prima facie it seems that some grudge took place between the accused and Himani.”
Himani’s body was found inside a suitcase near Sampla bus stand on Rohtak-Delhi highway on March 1. On Sunday, the Haryana Police had set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the murder of the 23-year-old Congress worker. Four teams of the Rohtak Police were looking for the culprits.
Himani lived at Vijay Nagar in Rohtak. Her body, which was found in a suitcase in Rohtak district on Saturday, bore some injury marks. Himani's family said they will not cremate her till the killers are arrested.
Her mother Savita alleged that some leaders in her party envied her political rise in a short span. "It could be anyone in the party who was jealous about her rise or it could be anyone else," the mother, who was accompanied by her son Jatin, said.
Haryana Congress leaders described Himani as an active and dedicated party worker, who also took part in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra earlier. They said she was pursuing a law degree and had been associated with the party for the last nearly a decade.
Savita said that her daughter used to work for the party till late hours and had dedicated her life to it. "Last time, I talked to her on February 27. She had said she would be busy with a party programme the next day, but later her phone was found switched off," her mother, who reached Rohtak from Delhi. "Until the time my daughter does not get justice, we won't cremate her," she said. She also said that her elder son was murdered many years ago and lamented, "even then I did not get justice". Himani's brother Jatin said the family was informed about the murder on Saturday afternoon.
