In a chilling case that has left Rajasthan’s Jodhpur in shock, the dismembered remains of a 50-year-old beautician, Anita Chaudhary, were found buried near the house of the prime suspect two days after she was reported missing. Anita, who operated a beauty parlour, disappeared on October 28 after closing her shop. Police have now launched a manhunt for the accused, identified as Ghulamuddin, also known as Gul Mohammad, with a second individual, Tayyab Ansari, emerging as another suspect in the investigation.
Disappearance and initial investigation
Anita was last seen in the afternoon of October 28, when she left her beauty parlour in an autorickshaw. When she failed to return home that night, her husband, Manmohan Chaudhary, filed a missing person’s report at the local police station in Jodhpur. Investigators soon uncovered that Anita had a professional acquaintance with Ghulamuddin, who operated a shop in the same building as her parlour.
Jodhpur’s Sardarpura Police Station Officer, Dilip Singh Rathore, said, “According to initial information, Anita left in an autorickshaw. We tracked down the driver, who confirmed dropping her off in Gangana, near the residence of Ghulamuddin.” Surveillance of her phone records pointed police towards Ghulamuddin as the last known contact.
Discovery of the body
Police reached the residence in Gangana, where they encountered Ghulamuddin’s wife, who had reportedly been away at her sister’s house for three days. Upon her return, she found out about Anita’s murder from her husband, who disclosed that Anita’s body had been buried behind their house. Police soon secured a bulldozer and excavated a 12-foot pit in the backyard, uncovering two plastic bags containing Anita’s torso, hands, and legs.
“The body parts were separately wrapped and buried, suggesting a deliberate attempt to hide evidence,” Rathore noted grimly. Her remains have been sent to AIIMS for a post-mortem examination.
As per the details available, Ghulamuddin slit her throat and then severed both arms and legs. He did not stop there as he ground the pieces, stuffed them into two gunny bags, and then dumped them behind their house.
Family alleges conspiracy
Anita’s family believes more than one person was involved in the brutal murder. Her son, in his statement, accused Ghulamuddin of luring and then murdering his mother under deceitful pretences. “Such a heinous act could not have been done by one individual alone,” her husband, Manmohan, asserted. He further alleged that when Anita’s body parts were unearthed, her ring was found with Ghulamuddin’s wife, hinting at her complicity in the crime.
The victim’s husband lodged an FIR at the Sardarpura police station, naming not only Ghulamuddin but also Tayyab Ansari, a former business partner of Anita’s. According to the complaint, Anita had shared keys to her shop with a neighbour, Azim, before her disappearance. Investigations revealed that shortly before she vanished, Anita called her sister, Meena, at 4 a.m., telling her she was with a friend named Sunita, alias Suman. Soon after, her phone was switched off, raising suspicions among family members.
Suspicions of a pre-planned conspiracy
Sunita, a friend of Anita’s, disclosed that she had warned Manmohan that Tayyab might pose a threat to Anita. On October 29, the day following her disappearance, Sunita reached out to Manmohan, suggesting that the crime might have been premeditated. This new lead has only intensified concerns that the murder may have involved multiple individuals conspiring against Anita.
Initial investigations
Preliminary investigations have uncovered that Ghulamuddin was deeply embroiled in gambling and had accumulated debts. According to police, his motive was likely financial, as he reportedly intended to rob Anita and had even resorted to threatening her to extort money. Anita owned a beauty parlour across from Ghulamuddin’s tailoring shop in Jodhpur, and the two had been casual acquaintances due to their proximity.
Authorities are still piecing together the events leading up to the murder. However, initial evidence indicates that Ghulamuddin, desperate to alleviate his debts, might have seen Anita as an accessible target. The precise sequence of events that culminated in her murder remains under investigation, but preliminary details point towards a premeditated attempt to rob her that tragically escalated into violence.
In addition to Ghulamuddin, his wife is suspected of complicity in the crime. Investigators believe that she may have assisted in disposing of the body, casting suspicion on her involvement in a potential conspiracy.
Outrage and protests
As the police continued their search for the accused, Anita’s family, joined by local residents, staged a protest at Veer Teja Mandir in Bhagat Ki Kothi on the night of Diwali. The tragic incident, unfolding during the festive season, has sent shockwaves through the community. They have demanded swift action and justice for Anita, pressing the authorities to expedite their investigation and apprehend all individuals involved.
Police action and further investigation
The police have registered a murder case and are questioning over a dozen people as they piece together the circumstances surrounding Anita’s murder. Police officials stated that their search is extending across multiple areas in Jodhpur to locate Ghulamuddin, who remains at large.
