Delhi: Man strangles wife to death, attempts suicide

A 37-year-old man strangulated his 26-year-old wife to death and then allegedly tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrist on Friday afternoon. Police said the accused has been arrested. The accused had also sent an audio clip to his friends on WhatsApp in which he claimed to have killed his wife.

In the audio clip, he stated that he suspected his wife was in a relationship before their marriage and hid the fact from him, and that he was ashamed of the fact that locals were raising questions.

"I'm killing her. My family has no role to play in it. Please hand over this audio to the police, so that they do not trouble my family over this," said the audio message, according to a relative.

According to the police, the accused has been identified as Umesh, an auto-driver, who strangulated his wife Jyoti, a housewife. Police said the incident came to light at around 10:30 am on Saturday.

"One of their relatives heard Umesh's daughter crying after which she rushed to check, however, no one opened the door. Later, the family broke the door open and spotted Jyoti lying lifeless on the bed and Umesh on the floor, bleeding from both his wrists," a senior police officer said.

Family members rushed them to Batra Hospital where Jyoti was declared brought dead on arrival while Umesh was admitted for treatment.

Jyoti's family claimed that on frequent complaints by the in-laws, Umesh often used to beat his wife after getting drunk. However, Umesh's family denied the claims.

On Saturday, Jyoti's family did not allow Umesh's family to take her body for cremation.

Police said the accused tried to hang himself after killing his wife, which did not work somehow. He later slit his wrists. The Kalkaji Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) had also been intimated and the statement of the woman's family members was recorded, police said.

"Umesh was arrested on Saturday afternoon after he gained consciousness," a senior police officer said.

FAMILIES SAY

• Family members of the wife — Jyoti —claimed that Umesh often used to beat his wife in drunken state. 
   
• Umesh’s family denied the claims. 
   
• Jyoti’s family also did not allow Umesh’s family to take her body for cremation on Saturday.