A 45-year-old man has been arrested for killing his live-in partner who was found dead in central Delhi last week. The woman’s body was found in a sack on a footpath at Daryaganj, the police said on Saturday.  

Dhan Kumar Gurung, who hails from West Bengal, suspected 33-year-old Monita Tamang of having an affair.

“During post-mortem, a SIM card was found hidden inside the woman’s undergarment,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Parmaditya.

The police managed to identify Dhan on the basis of details retrieved with the help of the SIM card. His location was traced to Gurgaon. A police team was immediately sent there and Dhan was nabbed from Jyoti Nagar in Gurgaon.

The investigation had also revealed that the sack used was traded in the area of Mithai Pul in Lahori Gate.

A police team went to shops at Mithai Pul and information provided by shopkeepers also led to a person with ‘north-eastern’ features. Police then searched guest houses, dharmshalas and dhabas of near-by areas and scrutinised records of people who had stayed there.

“Dhan had stayed at a dharamshala in Lahori Gate,” Parmaditya added.During interrogation, Dhan broke down and confessed to have killed Monita on February 4. He was married but separated from his wife. He got close to Monita who lived at a neighbouring village in West Bengal.

Monita was also married, but deserted by her husband and had two children. Dhan and Monita shifted to Delhi around four months back and worked as labourers.“Dhan suspected Monita of having illicit relations with other men. The suspicion grew when he noticed Monita’s multiple mobile phones and SIM cards,” Parmaditya said.

Dhan usually checked Monita’s mobile phone and found that she used to call with one SIM card and soon changed it after that. Later, Monita insisted on going back to her village in West Bengal alone. But Dhan suspected that she would be going with some other man. 

Dhan refused to let Monita go alone. This led to an argument and scuffle between the couple, according to the police.

In a fit of rage, Dhan strangled Monita with her dupatta. After killing her, he bought a sack from nearby Mithai Pul and vegetables from the local market, they added.

Dhan stuffed the body in the sack along with vegetables. He hired a rickshaw for Daryaganj and left the sack at Parda Bagh footpath.