A 20-year-old woman and her four-month-old daughter were found dead in a Maruti Omni van which reportedly accidentally fell into the Munak canal in Outer Delhi’s Bawana area on Tuesday night, said police.
However, family of the deceased, Hemlata and her daughter Pritika, have alleged that the mother-duo was murdered by Anil, Hemlata’s husband before their bodies were thrown into the Munak canal.
Police have detained Anil for questioning at the Narela police station.
According to a police officer, privy to the investigation, the incident came to light at around 10:20 pm when Anil called Hemlata’s brother from an STD booth in the JJ colony and said their vehicle fell into the canal. “Hemlata and Pritika were inside the car. Anil told us that he left his mobile phone at Hemlata’s house and thus called her brother from STD,” said an investigating officer.
Calling Hemlata and Pritika’s deaths foul play, a relative said Anil and Hemlata often fought. “Anil had illicit relation with his sister-in-law, due to which they had frequent quarrels. Hemlata came to live with her parents in Nangal Kalan. Staying here for the past week, Anil called Hemlata’s brother, saying that he will come to pick her and their four-month-old daughter and take them back to Goga village,” said the relative.
“They (Anil, Hemlata and Pritika) left home at around 8:30 pm in the Omni van. Two hours later, we got a call that the car fell into the canal. Questioning why Anil took the canal route instead of the main road, a relative asked, Why were there tyre marks near the canalIJ We are sure that Anil killed her and then pushed the vehicle into the canal,” added the relative.