Sohna: Man’s mutilated body and severed arms found in Aravalli hills

A 25-year-old man was brutally murdered in Sohna, with both arms cut off using a heavy, sharp weapon, police announced on Sunday. The mutilated body was discovered on Sunday morning in the dense jungle of Aravalli Hills near Kherla village.

The victim, Atul Raghav, a resident of Kherla, was missing since 2 p.m. on October 3, police said. In December 2023, he was accused of attacking a friend, David, by hitting him in the head with an axe. Investigators revealed that four criminal cases were registered against Raghav, including three for theft and one for assault. Police said Raghav suspected his wife of being involved in an affair with her associate, David. Raghav was on trial for assaulting David. According to police, David, along with another individual, are suspects in Raghav’s murder, which is believed to be an act of revenge against Raghav following the 2023 assault.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Sohna) Abhilaksh Joshi said Raghav’s family filed a missing person’s complaint at Sadar Sohna police station on October 4. “Following the complaint, we launched an investigation and soon suspected that Raghav had been murdered. Joint teams of police and local community have been formed to search the jungles of Aravalli,” Joshi said.

Santram Khatana, the deceased’s neighbor, said two unidentified men arrived at Raghav’s house around 2 p.m. on October 3 and called him. “Raghav left with them on their motorbike, and that was the last time he was seen. When he could not be reached, his family, along with villagers and the police, began searching for him. His mutilated body was finally found on Sunday morning,” Khatana said.

The body was found on Sunday, with both arms cut off at the shoulder, police added. Joshi said: “It appears a heavy and sharp weapon may have been used. However, the murder weapon has not yet been found. Police are conducting raids to locate and arrest the suspects, including David, who is currently on the run, officers said, adding that the name of the second suspect will not be released until the investigation is complete.

Following the complaint from the family of the deceased, an FIR was registered against two suspects, including David, under sections 3 (5) (common intention) and 103 (1) (murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the police station of Sadar Sohna on Sunday.