BHOPAL: In a macabre incident, a man allegedly murdered his girlfriend, buried her body in the courtyard of his house and slept on a cot over the freshly covered grave for two days. The incident took place in Niwari district on October 2, in a village within the Orchha police station limits.Sharing details of the crime, police said the accused, identified as Ratiram Rajput, invited his girlfriend—who was married—to his house on the night of the murder.The two reportedly shared some intimate moments before Ratiram strangled her to death. Later, with the help of his friends Kalicharan — Mukesh, and Gyan Singh, he dug a pit in the courtyard, buried her body, covered her grave with mud and cow dung, and placed a cot over it. He then slept there for two nights, pretending nothing had happened, police said. When the woman did not return home, her family lodged a missing complaint. Acting on suspicion, the sleuths detained Ratiram on October 4. During interrogation, he confessed to the murder, police said, adding that the woman’s mortal remains were exhumed from his house thereafter.However, Ratiram managed to escape from custody the next day, leading to the suspension of two policemen for negligence. Police said efforts were underway to nab the absconding accused.According to police sources, the woman had been pressuring Ratiram to marry her, even expressing willingness to leave her husband. However, the accused, according to the police, was unwilling to continue the relationship and, hence, planned her murder.Her family members, meanwhile, alleged torture claiming the victim was cut with a blade, electrocuted, and possibly buried alive. They demanded Ratiram’s immediate re-arrest and strict punishment.Local police have intensified searches for the absconding accused.