The killing of a woman autorickshaw driver in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district has taken a dramatic turn after police confirmed that the death, initially believed to be an accident, was in fact a murder. The main accused, identified as the woman’s lover, was arrested following a police encounter days after the incident, bringing to light a case rooted in a long-standing personal relationship that allegedly ended in betrayal and violence.

The incident came to public attention earlier this week when the body of a woman autorickshaw driver was found in the early hours of the morning under circumstances that appeared to suggest a road accident. According to initial information received by the police control room at around 2:30 am, the driver of an autorickshaw had died after being crushed beneath her vehicle. Police officials rushed to the spot, recovered the body, and sent it for post-mortem examination as part of routine procedure.

The deceased was later identified as Anita Chaudhary, a resident of Jhansi and wife of Dwarka Chaudhary. Anita earned her livelihood as an autorickshaw driver, a profession that is still relatively uncommon for women in the region. Her death was initially treated as accidental, but doubts soon began to surface within her family, prompting a deeper investigation.

Anita’s husband, Dwarka Chaudhary, lodged a formal complaint with the police, alleging that his wife had been murdered. He named three individuals in his complaint, expressing suspicion that the circumstances of her death did not align with the theory of an accident. Acting on the complaint, police intensified their probe and awaited the post-mortem report to establish the exact cause of death.

The case took a decisive turn on Saturday when the post-mortem report revealed that Anita had been shot, confirming that her death was the result of homicide rather than an accident. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jhansi, BBGTS Murthy, said the findings prompted the registration of a murder case and the immediate identification of suspects based on the complaint and preliminary investigation.

Following the post-mortem findings, police identified the accused as Mukesh Jha, his son Shivam, and his brother-in-law Manoj. According to SSP Murthy, Mukesh Jha was the prime accused and had been in contact with Anita for the past six to seven years. Investigators revealed that the two were involved in a personal relationship that had recently become strained due to disputes.

Police sources indicated that tensions between Anita and Mukesh had escalated in recent months, though the precise nature of the disagreements is still being examined. Investigators believe that these disputes ultimately led to the crime, with Mukesh allegedly deciding to kill Anita after feeling emotionally betrayed.

On Monday evening, police arrested Shivam and Manoj in connection with the case. After being questioned, both were produced before a court and subsequently sent to jail. Meanwhile, the main accused, Mukesh Jha, remained absconding, prompting the police to intensify search operations across Jhansi and neighbouring districts.

To expedite his arrest, police announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to Mukesh’s whereabouts. Teams were deployed to track his movements, and local informants were activated to gather intelligence. The breakthrough came on Friday night when police received a tip-off about Mukesh’s location.

Acting swiftly on the information, police attempted to intercept Mukesh as he was allegedly trying to flee. According to officials, Mukesh opened fire at the police party in an attempt to escape arrest. The police retaliated, and during the exchange, Mukesh sustained a gunshot injury to his right leg. He was overpowered, taken into custody, and immediately shifted to a medical college for treatment under police guard.

Superintendent of Police Preeti Singh said that Mukesh confessed to the crime during questioning. “The accused admitted that he killed Anita because he felt betrayed in love. The relationship between them had deteriorated, and he believed that she had wronged him,” she said. However, police officials stressed that the confession is only one part of the investigation and that all evidence will be thoroughly examined to build a strong case.

The police are now conducting a detailed investigation to establish the sequence of events leading up to the murder, the role played by each of the accused, and whether the crime was premeditated. Officers are also examining call records, financial transactions, and other digital evidence to corroborate the statements made by the accused.

The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly because Anita was a working woman who defied traditional gender roles by driving an autorickshaw to support her family. Her death has sparked conversations about the vulnerabilities faced by women, especially those navigating personal relationships alongside economic independence.

Police officials have assured that the investigation will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner and that all those found guilty will face strict legal action. With the main accused now in custody and the others already in jail, authorities say the focus is on completing the investigation and ensuring that justice is delivered.

As the case unfolds, Anita Chaudhary’s family awaits closure, hoping that the legal process will bring accountability for a crime that initially masqueraded as an accident but ultimately revealed a far more disturbing reality.