BATHINDA: Bathinda Police solved the case involving the recovery of the body of a young girl from a suitcase by arresting her friend, who was alleged to have killed the girl identified as Sapna, also known as Malika, from Baghapurana town in Moga district. The deceased’s friend, Prince Kumar of Bathinda, conceded that he killed 20-year-old Malika over a dispute and disposed of the dead body, police said on Friday.An abandoned suitcase was recovered from fields near Behman Diwana village, situated on the Bathinda-Malout highway, on February 11. When police searched the suitcase, the half-burnt dead body was found stuffed inside it.Investigators also disclosed that following the murder, the accused had a tattoo inked on his chest featuring a photograph of himself with the woman. A case was registered against unidentified persons at Bathinda Sadar Police Station.

Bathinda SSP Jyoti Yadav said 2 CCTV investigation teams were constituted to look into the incident. During examination of CCTV footage, the deceased was last seen in the Parasram Nagar area of Bathinda. Technical analysis of the deceased’s mobile phone was conducted, and around 10–15 suspicious persons were examined. Police reached Prince Kumar of Bathinda on Friday.During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was a friend of the deceased. Malika was with him on February 9, when he committed the murder. Thereafter, he attempted to destroy evidence by partially burning the body. On the night of February 10, he tried to dispose of the body but did not succeed. Again, on February 11, he stuffed the dead body in a suitcase, took it to Malout Road in a silver-coloured Hyundai i20 car, and disposed of it along Malout Road near Behman Diwana village.The vehicle used in the crime and the knife used in the commission of the offence were recovered. No previous criminal case was found registered against the accused, the SSP said, adding that further investigations were under way.