In a tragic and gruesome incident that has shaken the residents of Mumbai and Bihar, the body of a young man from Bihar was discovered in Mumbai’s Gorai area, chopped into seven pieces and stuffed into a gunny bag. The Mumbai police, who launched an investigation after the body was found, now suspect that an interfaith relationship might have led to the brutal killing. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Raghunandan Paswan from Kanholi village in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, was recognised by a tattoo on his right hand, a significant clue that allowed his father to identify him.
According to officials, the prime suspect has been detained, and further inquiries have revealed a possible motive linked to Raghunandan’s relationship with a 17-year-old girl from another faith. The police believe that tensions arising from this interfaith relationship led to a violent escalation involving the girl’s family. Officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch stated that the girl, who had previously been in a relationship with Raghunandan, had recently broken up with him. However, it is alleged that Raghunandan attempted to continue the relationship, which angered her family members. The investigation suggests that her brothers may have resorted to violence to prevent any further association between Raghunandan and their sister.
A senior Mumbai police officer disclosed that the murder occurred in Bhayandar, after which the girl’s brothers transported Raghunandan’s dismembered body to Gorai, using an auto-rickshaw to dispose of the remains. Police have detained the auto-rickshaw driver as well, suspecting his possible involvement in the case.
The events leading up to Raghunandan’s death were a series of escalating conflicts with the girl’s family, particularly her brothers, who were allegedly opposed to the relationship. Raghunandan’s father, Jitendra Paswan, revealed that his son had received death threats from the girl’s family members. “They threatened my son because they suspected him of having an affair with the girl. I had tried to resolve the matter with the girl’s family, even involving our village chief to help ease the tension,” Jitendra stated. To avoid further conflict, he had encouraged Raghunandan to quit his job at a hospital in Bihar, where he had initially met the girl.
Raghunandan subsequently relocated to Pune, where he found employment with a private firm and resided in the Saraswadi area. However, tensions persisted. On October 31, Raghunandan unexpectedly left his home in Darbhanga, informing his family that he was headed to Mumbai with friends. Shortly after, his phone was switched off, raising concerns about his safety. Jitendra, worried about his son’s whereabouts, traveled to Pune and later to Andheri, where his son was last seen, eventually filing a missing person’s complaint at the Andheri Police Station.
Further investigation reveals that Raghunandan may have been lured to Mumbai under the pretense of a friendly tour, only to fall into a deadly trap. According to Jitendra’s suspicions, the girl’s brothers conspired with others, sedating and killing Raghunandan after bringing him to Andheri. “They planned it meticulously, calling him to Pune, and then led him to Mumbai, where they executed this heinous crime,” alleged Jitendra.
Back in Darbhanga, Jitendra works as a security guard at a local hospital and has three young daughters. The family is now left shattered by the tragic and brutal loss. “My entire family and our village are devastated. We cannot believe the extent of cruelty inflicted upon my son,” he expressed in despair. Jitendra is currently in Mumbai, waiting to claim his son’s remains to perform the last rites.
On Sunday, residents of Shephali village in Babarpada, a locality near Gorai, discovered the bag containing Raghunandan’s body. After noticing a foul odor emanating from the bag, they informed the local police. Officers who opened the bag were confronted with the horrifying sight of his body, dismembered and packed into four separate containers. The Gorai police initially filed a case against an unidentified person for murder and destruction of evidence under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). However, with the involvement of the Crime Branch, further details have emerged, leading to the detention of the girl’s family members.
The Mumbai Crime Branch circulated a public notice about the body, displaying an image of the tattooed right hand that read “RA,” hoping for any leads on the victim’s identity. Raghunandan’s father, after recognizing the tattoo, provided critical information about his son’s background and the threats he faced. The authorities believe that this vital clue has paved the way for significant breakthroughs in the investigation, with further detentions likely as they continue to probe the gruesome crime.
This case has brought attention to the complex societal issues surrounding interfaith relationships and the violent measures some individuals resort to in defense of perceived family honor. The tragedy has sparked discussions about the need for greater protection for individuals in interfaith relationships and a reevaluation of societal norms that drive such brutal responses. The police are now working to bring all those involved in this horrific crime to justice