Mathura (UP), March 12 A 22-year-old woman and her boyfriend have been arrested for allegedly murdering her mother-in-law in a village here, police said on Thursday.
The victim, identified as Akhbari Begum (50), a resident of Bhankarpur Basela village, was killed on March 3 and buried shortly after.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said the family initially believed the death was natural. However, they approached the police on March 8 after expressing suspicion of foul play.
Following the complaint, the body was exhumed and sent for a post-mortem examination. The report confirmed the cause of death as strangulation.
Circle Officer Shweta Verma said the accused, Hina, was in a relationship with her neighbour, Adil (20). On the night of the incident, Akhbari Begum caught the duo together and objected to their relationship.
The accused feared social disgrace and decided to kill her, the SSP said, adding that they allegedly used a pillow to suffocate her.
The pillow used in the crime has been recovered, the officer added.
The accused initially misled the family by claiming the death was due to natural causes, leading to the victim's burial. Investigations were launched after growing suspicions within the village prompted the family to lodge a formal complaint, the police said.
Both Hina and Adil were arrested on Wednesday. They were produced before a court and sent to judicial custody, they added.
