UP woman, friend strangle her husband in his sleep, stage it as snakebite death
The deceased, Amit Kashyap alias Mikki, was found dead with multiple snakebites on his bed on Sunday morning. A live viper was also recovered from the room
A woman and her friend who strangled her husband in his sleep and then released a snake on the bed to stage it as snakebite death were arrested in western Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district on Thursday, police said.

The deceased, Amit Kashyap alias Mikki, was found dead with multiple snakebites on his bed on Sunday morning. A live viper was recovered from the room.
“However, the autopsy report revealed that Amit had died of asphyxiation, not envenomation. This finding prompted a police investigation, which eventually led to the arrest of Ravita and her lover, Amardeep,” senior superintendent of police Meerut Vipin Tada said.
Tracing the possible sequence of events, superintendent of police (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra said Amardeep allegedly purchased a viper for ₹1,000 from a snake charmer in Mahmoodpur Sikheda village. “On the night of the murder, the duo waited until Amit was asleep before strangling him to death. To mislead authorities and avoid suspicion, they placed the snake beneath his body, causing it to bite him multiple times posthumously,” Mishra said.
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The police investigation revealed that Ravita and Amardeep had been in a relationship for a year. Amardeep, who worked as a labourer with Amit, frequently visited his home.
“Amit had recently become aware of his wife’s extramarital relationship and had started opposing it. This led the couple to plot his murder. To ensure they wouldn’t be caught, they even researched murder techniques on Google and YouTube,” a police officer said.
ABOUT THE AUTHORDeepak LavaniaDeepak Lavania is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, reporting on the diverse and fast-evolving landscape of Western Uttar Pradesh. Currently based in Meerut, he has a decade of experience in journalism and has covered most major beats, from civic issues to crime, politics, and defence. Previously, he was associated with The Times of India, where he covered a wide range of significant stories across the region. His reports on the degradation of the ecologically sensitive Yamuna ravines near the Taj Mahal were taken into cognisance by the National Green Tribunal, which directed the government to demarcate the Yamuna floodplains. Rooted in his hometown of Taj City of Agra, Deepak takes immense pride in the rich history, heritage, and traditions of Braj culture. Beyond journalism, he is passionate about long-distance running, strength training, and mountaineering. A certified mountaineer and recipient of the prestigious Silver Ice Axe Badge from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, he embraces challenges both in the mountains and on the road, while finding a sense of calm and clarity through swimming, which he considers a form of meditation.Read More

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