BHOPAL: The stench from a deserted, crumbling house in Govari village of Anuppur led to the chilling discovery of a highly decomposed and mutilated body of a young woman, triggering panic in the area and setting off a swift police investigation.The body, found on March 15 inside an abandoned structure under Jaitahari police station limits, was in an advanced state of decomposition, with several parts badly damaged. Locals who had gathered at the spot alerted police after noticing the foul smell emanating from the locked room.Initial investigation suggested a suspicious death, prompting the formation of a special team. Personal belongings recovered from the scene and verification with a missing persons report helped identify the victim as Kajal Puri (24), a resident of Lapta village who had been missing since Feb 17.

Police said Kajal left home that day, telling her family she was going to college, but never returned. Her last known contact led investigators to Chandrabhan Rathore, also known as Ravi or 'Thakur Sahab', who was later detained and questioned.During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he was in a relationship with Kajal after meeting her on Facebook months ago. As she began pressuring him to marry her, he refused, citing social constraints, and allegedly plotted the murder.

According to police, on Feb 17, he took Kajal on his motorcycle to the isolated house in Govari village, where he attacked her with a stone, killing her. He then tried to erase evidence by destroying her SIM card and hiding her mobile phone.Police have since recovered key evidence, including the victim's phone and the motorcycle used in the crime, and arrested the accused within 48 hours. Further investigation is underway.