Man plants explosives in ‘wedding gift’ for ex-partner, 2 killed: Police

Rajkumar succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The impact of the explosion was such that it led to the collapse of walls and roof of the room, the officer said.

Updated on: Apr 5, 2023, 24:14:03 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: A 32-year-old man allegedly planted explosives in a music system and presented it as a wedding gift to his ex-girlfriend, but it resulted in the death of her husband and brother-in-law in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district, police said on Tuesday.

Kabirdham superintendent of police (SP) Lal Ummed Singh said the accused had a relation with the Lalita, but she refused his marriage proposal. (Representative photo)

The accused, identified as Sarju Markam, a resident of Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, was arrested on Tuesday, said Kabirdham additional superintendent of police (ASP) Manisha Thakur.

The accused gave the music system to Hemendra Merawi (22), a resident of Chamari village, and his wife Lalita Marwai (22), a resident of adjoining Anjana village, as a wedding gift on March 30, police said..

“On Monday, Hemendra Merawi and other family members were unwrapping the wedding presents inside a room in his house. As Merawi switched on the music system, it exploded,” said ASP Thakur. “While Merawi died on the spot, four others, including his elder brother Rajkumar (30), suffered injuries.”

Rajkumar succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The impact of the explosion was such that it led to the collapse of walls and roof of the room, the officer said.

Thakur said Markam was arrested on Tuesday. “During his questioning, the accused confessed to having planted explosives in the music system and gifting it to the newlyweds,” said the ASP. “We are yet to ascertain from where he got explosives and other details of the case.”

A case under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at the Rengakhar police station, the ASP added. The accused will be produced before the court on Wednesday.

Kabirdham superintendent of police (SP) Lal Ummed Singh said the accused had a relation with the Lalita, but she refused his marriage proposal.

“When the woman’s marriage was fixed by her family members, Markam called the groom on phone and had an argument. Subsequently, he decided to kill the groom,” Singh said. “He purchased ammonium nitrate and mixed it with petrol and gunpowder, which he retrieved from crackers.”

The accused was a motor mechanic in Balaghat, but he had previously worked with bore-machine contractors, the SP said. “Therefore, he was aware of explosives and knew how to trigger it.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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