
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh – A chilling crime has rocked Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, where the dismembered body of 35-year-old Rachna Yadav was found in a well in Kishorpura village on August 13. Police have arrested two suspects, former village head Sanjay Patel, 41, and his nephew Sandeep Patel, 25, for the brutal murder. A third accomplice, Pradeep Ahirwar, was caught after a police encounter, solving the case that horrified the region.
Rachna, a widow from Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, was in a relationship with Sanjay Patel for two years. She had been pressuring him to marry her, but Sanjay, already married with two children, refused. Police say this tension led to a deadly plan. On the night of August 9, Sanjay, Sandeep, and Pradeep allegedly strangled Rachna in a car, chopped her body into seven pieces with an axe, and dumped the parts to hide the crime. Her torso and arms were found in a well, while her head and legs were thrown into the Raivan River.
The case broke open when a farmer noticed a foul smell from his well and found two sacks with body parts. The missing head and legs made identification tough, but police worked tirelessly, reviewing 200 CCTV cameras and distributing thousands of posters. Rachna’s brother recognized her from one of these posters, leading to a raid on Sanjay’s home where he confessed.
Rachna’s life was marked by hardship. She had two children from her first marriage and left her second husband, Shivraj Yadav, after filing a case against him for dowry harassment and rape in 2023. After Shivraj’s death in June, she grew close to Sanjay, but their relationship turned fatal.
The Jhansi police, led by Senior Superintendent BBGTS Murthy, were praised for solving the case in just eight days. The team, including SWAT and local officers, received Rs 90,000 in rewards from top officials. Pradeep, the last suspect, was nabbed after a chase where he was shot in the leg.
This gruesome murder has left Jhansi shaken, with locals demanding tougher laws to protect women. “It’s terrifying to think this could happen in our village,” said a resident. The case highlights the dangers of personal disputes turning deadly, leaving a community grappling with fear and loss.