Buldhana: What initially appeared to be a mysterious case involving a mutilated and partially burnt body abandoned near a riverbank in rural Buldhana has now unravelled into a chilling alleged “honour killing” that exposed a carefully planned attempt to erase every trace of the victim.
In a breakthrough after nearly two weeks of relentless investigation, the Buldhana Police arrested the victim’s father and brother for allegedly murdering a newly-married woman, dismembering her body, and transporting the remains over 100 kilometres on a motorcycle before dumping them in a secluded farmland area.
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The disturbing case surfaced on April 26 when locals noticed a partially burnt female body lying near the riverbank in Rajura farmland under the jurisdiction of Jalgaon Jamod Police Station.
The body was headless and severely charred, making identification nearly impossible. Shockingly, a human skull was later found around 100 metres away from the spot, triggering panic across the region and raising suspicions of a brutal murder.
Based on a complaint lodged by a local resident, police registered an offence and began probing the mystery surrounding the unidentified woman.
Crime branch steps in
Given the brutality of the crime and the sensitive nature of the case, Superintendent of Police Nilesh Tambe directed the Local Crime Branch (LCB) to take over the investigation.
Under the supervision of Police Inspector Sunil Ambolkar, multiple teams launched an extensive operation across several districts, including Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, and neighbouring Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
Investigators began piecing together clues from missing persons records, technical surveillance, and intelligence gathered through informants. However, with the victim’s body badly mutilated, the investigation initially moved through a maze of uncertainty.
Missing complaint raises suspicion
The breakthrough came on May 9 when investigators came across a missing woman complaint registered at Khaknar Police Station on May 1. The complaint had been filed by 55-year-old Bapuram Kalemkar, who reported that his daughter had been missing since April 25.
As investigators compared timelines and details, they identified the deceased woman as Shivani Bapuram Kalemkar, a resident of Khadki village in Burhanpur district.
Police found that Shivani had married Prakash Bhilavekar, a resident of Kharya Tembhur village in Dharni taluka of Amravati district, on April 15. She had reportedly returned to her parental home shortly after the wedding.
What raised suspicion was the unusual silence from the family after filing the missing complaint. According to investigators, there was no serious follow-up or effort from the family to trace Shivani, leading police to suspect that the complaint itself may have been filed to divert attention and mislead investigators.
Alleged honour killing exposed
During sustained interrogation, police detained Shivani’s father Bapuram Kalemkar and her brother Ajay Kalemkar, both residents of Khadki village. Investigators claim the duo eventually confessed to the crime.
According to police sources, Shivani was allegedly involved in a relationship with one of her cousins even after her marriage, which had triggered anger and resentment within the family.
Police said that on the night of April 23, Bapuram allegedly assaulted Shivani with a bamboo stick during a heated confrontation, leading to her death on the spot.
Investigators revealed that after the murder, the accused allegedly kept Shivani’s body inside the house for nearly a day before executing a gruesome plan to destroy evidence.
Police said the father and son transported the body on a motorcycle from Khadki village in Burhanpur district to Rajura farmland in Buldhana district, a journey of over 100 kilometres.
In a bid to prevent identification, the accused allegedly burnt the body, severed the head, and dumped body parts at different locations. The blood-stained clothes and the bamboo stick allegedly used in the murder were later discarded in a forested area, police said.
Both accused were formally arrested and later handed over to Jalgaon Jamod Police Station for further investigation.
Police officials said the case highlights the disturbing extent to which perpetrators can go to conceal crimes committed in the name of “family honour.”
Further investigation is underway to determine whether any additional individuals helped the accused in destroying evidence or concealing the crime.
