Live-In Partner Arrested in Mumbai for Killing Odia Girl and Stuffing Her Body in Suitcase

Mumbai: A man was arrested by Mumbai police for allegedly murdering his Odia live-in partner, and leaving her body stuffed in a suitcase in the Kurla area.

The deceased was identified as Pratima Pawal Kispatta (25) of Bandalikani village under Lephripada police limits in Sundargarh district. The arrested accused Askar Manoj Barla (22) is also a man from Odisha’s Sundargarh district.

Askar allegedly strangled Pratima on Saturday evening, said police sources. Police arrested him on Monday.

Askar suspected that Pratima was not faithful to him and was having an affair with another man, which is suspected to be the reason behind the murder.

While returning to their homes in Odisha during the COVID-19 pandemic, Askar and Pratima had come close to each other.

They were in a live-in relationship and were staying in a rented house in Mumbai’s Dharavi area. Askar worked in a sweet shop while Pratima served as a maid for a living.

Police nabbed Aksar, while he was trying to escape to Odisha. The body of Pratima was found packed in an abandoned suitcase on Sunday morning on the CST Road bridge at Chembur-Santacruz Road in Kurla West.