Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that the Shraddha murder was a case of 'love jihad'. He said: "If the country does not have a strong leader today, a government that respects the nation as a mother, such Aftabs will emerge in every city and we will not be able to safeguard our society."
Shraddha, an aspiring journalist was strangled by her live-in partner Aftab Poonawalla on May 18. He then chopped her body into 35 pieces, which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli, before dumping them across the city over several days past midnight.
Sarma said: "Even after killing Shraddha and storing the pieces of her body in a refrigerator, Aftab would bring home girls and date them."
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The couple used to have frequent arguments over financial matters. Police suspect the couple fought over one such matter that resulted in Aftab killing Shraddha on the evening of May 18.
Aftab has allegedly been trying to derail the investigation by changing his statements and giving conflicting answers during interrogation. Following this, the Delhi Police has secured permission for his narco test, which may be conducted next week at Ambedkar Hospital in Delhi.
Shraddha (26) and Aftab (28), both call-centre employees, met on the dating app, Bumble, three years ago but the relationship wasn't a happy one.
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