<p>A tantrik and a woman have been arrested for the murder of a 27-year-old woman from Shahjahanpur who was in a relationship with another woman she met in college, police said.</p>.<p>Poonam Kumari, a resident of Shahjahanpur, was allegedly lured by the tantrik, identified as Ram Niwas, with the promise of changing her gender, police added.</p>.<p>Shahjahanpur's Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) city, Sudhir Jaiswal, said on Wednesday that Poonam and her 25-year-old partner, Preeti Sagar, who lived in Lakhimpur Kheri, met while pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree and were in a relationship for a few months.</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/rape-survivor-sets-herself-on-fire-in-uttar-pradesh-1229749.html" target="_blank">Rape survivor sets herself on fire in Uttar Pradesh</a></strong></p>.<p>"The Lakhimpur Kheri woman's reluctance in getting married to a man despite her family's multiple efforts, revealed her relationship status, and invited opposition from both the families who feared social stigma," he added.</p>.<p>Police have arrested Sagar under several charges, including murder and criminal conspiracy.</p>.<p>Lakhimpur Kheri's Mohammadi police station in-charge, Amber Singh, said the tantrik was in touch with Sagar's mother and told her that changing Kumari's gender could help her get married to Sagar.</p>.<p>He added Kumari was called for the alleged ritual and left her house -- nearly 50 km away from Lakhimpur Kheri -- on April 18.</p>.<p>She was reported missing by her brother Parvinder Kumar on April 26.</p>.<p>"The police came to know about Preeti Sagar when they scanned the victim's call details and discovered they both had been talking over phone for long durations," Jaiswal added.</p>.<p>Niwas has been taken into police custody.</p>.<p>"He (tantrik) confessed to having strangulated Kumari after calling her at a deserted place on the pretext of performing a ritual to change her gender."</p>.<p>Niwas fled after disposing of the body on the banks of the Gomti in a forested area, the ASP said.</p>.<p>Police recovered 11 bones from near Sagar's house and have sent it for forensic examination.</p>.<p>In the FIR, Kumar accused Sagar, her mother Urmila and Niwas of murdering his sister.</p>.<p>A police officer said the FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (concealing body after crime).</p>
<p>A tantrik and a woman have been arrested for the murder of a 27-year-old woman from Shahjahanpur who was in a relationship with another woman she met in college, police said.</p>.<p>Poonam Kumari, a resident of Shahjahanpur, was allegedly lured by the tantrik, identified as Ram Niwas, with the promise of changing her gender, police added.</p>.<p>Shahjahanpur's Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) city, Sudhir Jaiswal, said on Wednesday that Poonam and her 25-year-old partner, Preeti Sagar, who lived in Lakhimpur Kheri, met while pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree and were in a relationship for a few months.</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/rape-survivor-sets-herself-on-fire-in-uttar-pradesh-1229749.html" target="_blank">Rape survivor sets herself on fire in Uttar Pradesh</a></strong></p>.<p>"The Lakhimpur Kheri woman's reluctance in getting married to a man despite her family's multiple efforts, revealed her relationship status, and invited opposition from both the families who feared social stigma," he added.</p>.<p>Police have arrested Sagar under several charges, including murder and criminal conspiracy.</p>.<p>Lakhimpur Kheri's Mohammadi police station in-charge, Amber Singh, said the tantrik was in touch with Sagar's mother and told her that changing Kumari's gender could help her get married to Sagar.</p>.<p>He added Kumari was called for the alleged ritual and left her house -- nearly 50 km away from Lakhimpur Kheri -- on April 18.</p>.<p>She was reported missing by her brother Parvinder Kumar on April 26.</p>.<p>"The police came to know about Preeti Sagar when they scanned the victim's call details and discovered they both had been talking over phone for long durations," Jaiswal added.</p>.<p>Niwas has been taken into police custody.</p>.<p>"He (tantrik) confessed to having strangulated Kumari after calling her at a deserted place on the pretext of performing a ritual to change her gender."</p>.<p>Niwas fled after disposing of the body on the banks of the Gomti in a forested area, the ASP said.</p>.<p>Police recovered 11 bones from near Sagar's house and have sent it for forensic examination.</p>.<p>In the FIR, Kumar accused Sagar, her mother Urmila and Niwas of murdering his sister.</p>.<p>A police officer said the FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (concealing body after crime).</p>