Two individuals from Kolkata, West Bengal, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Delhi University assistant professor. The arrests were made on Sunday, with police identifying a property dispute as the likely motive behind the crime. The professor, Devosmita Paul, aged 42, was found deceased in her apartment in East Delhi’s Vasundhara Enclave on Thursday.
Property Dispute Cited as Motive
According to police officials, the arrested couple are distant relatives of the victim and had been residing as tenants in one of her ancestral properties in Kolkata. The dispute reportedly stemmed from the couple’s desire to purchase the property they were living in, a plan that the professor opposed. While her parents and siblings were amenable to selling the ancestral property, as they had settled in Delhi, the professor was reportedly against the sale, viewing her stance as a hurdle to the couple’s wishes.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Ajit Kumar Singla stated that the couple travelled from Kolkata to Delhi with the intention of murdering the professor, subsequently returning to West Bengal. The arrests were made in Kolkata, and the couple is being brought to Delhi for further interrogation and investigation.
Circumstances of the Murder
Devosmita Paul, an assistant professor at Shivaji College, was discovered with severe head injuries, her wrists slit, and bruises on her face and body, indicating a possible struggle. There were no signs of forced entry into her apartment, suggesting that the victim may have known her assailants. CCTV footage from the apartment complex showed two masked individuals entering the premises on the day of the murder, avoiding the lift and using the staircase. They reportedly remained inside for approximately 40-45 minutes before leaving. Investigators suspect they used a weapon they had brought with them to commit the crime.
The deceased’s sister, Devarati Paul, alerted the authorities after she found the apartment locked from the outside and received no response from her sister. Upon breaking the lock in the presence of Residents’ Welfare Association members, the professor’s body was discovered.
Investigation and Background
The victim, who had been appointed as a permanent assistant professor in 2023, lived alone in the apartment. She had reportedly separated from her husband, who resides in Bengaluru, in 2022. The investigation has revealed that the ancestral property in Kolkata, which was inherited by the professor from her maternal grandfather, is valued at several crores of rupees.
Police have initiated a case under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The arrested couple are residents of Bardhaman, West Bengal, and are expected to provide crucial details regarding the sequence of events leading up to the murder during their interrogation.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
