Body of Lahaul woman found in Punjab, 4-Year-old daughter still missing; Suspect at large
Photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Aug 27,
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday expressed deep concern over a shocking case that has shaken Lahaul-Spiti— the murder of a young woman and the mysterious disappearance of her four-year-old daughter.
Responding to a query raised by MLA Anuradha Rana, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri revealed that investigators suspect the involvement of a man of Jammu and Kashmir origin, who had been living in Lahaul-Spiti and has since gone underground.
According to details placed before the House, the case began with a missing complaint lodged on August 16 at Udaipur Police Station by Ram Singh of Madgran village. Singh reported that his wife, 28-year-old Sapna Kumari, and their daughter had gone to Kullu for medical treatment. On August 5, Sapna called him from Manali, after which her phone went silent. Despite frantic searches, both remained untraceable.
The investigation took a grim turn on August 14, when Punjab police recovered the body of an unidentified woman along a roadside in Kiratpur. Subsequent confirmation revealed the deceased to be Sapna Kumari, who had allegedly been murdered and dumped by unknown hands. The child, however, is still missing.
Deputy CM Agnihotri informed that two separate FIRs—one in Himachal (No. 26/25 at Udaipur) for the missing child and another in Punjab (No. 93/25 at Kiratpur) for the murder—are under investigation. “Both state police forces are coordinating. CCTV footage and phone records suggest the woman was last seen in Manali, just days before her body was found in Kiratpur,” he said.
He added that the suspect, who has strong local links but roots in Jammu and Kashmir, went into hiding soon after the crime. “Due to the remoteness and poor connectivity in Udaipur, apprehending him has been difficult. His arrest is key to tracing the missing child,” Agnihotri stressed.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted, and police have intensified the search operation. The Deputy CM assured the House that every possible effort is being made to trace the girl and ensure justice for the family.
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