Bathinda suitcase murder: accused arrested, allegedly tattooed victim’s face on chest

Punjab: In a major breakthrough, police in Bathinda arrested 35-year-old Prince Kumar two days after a woman’s semi-burnt body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase near Behman Diwana village along the Bathinda–Fazilka national highway.

The victim has been identified as Sapna, also known as Malika, a native of Baghapurana in Moga district who had been living in Bathinda.

According to police, the accused allegedly stabbed the woman to death in the early hours of February 9 at his residence in the Surkhpeer area of the city. Officials said he kept the body in his house for two days and attempted to burn it before placing it inside a suitcase.

On the intervening night of February 10–11, he is alleged to have transported and dumped the remains in fields near the highway. Police have recovered the suitcase, the knife believed to have been used in the crime, and the car allegedly used to move the body.

Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav Bains described the case as a “crime of passion.” She stated that the accused was living alone and was the sole person involved in the incident. The motive is still being officially established.

Investigators traced the suspect using CCTV footage from the Parasram Nagar area, which showed the victim with the accused on February 7, the last day she was seen alive. Technical analysis of the victim’s phone records led police to question 15 individuals before focusing on him.

Police sources indicated that the body bore multiple stab wounds, though officials declined to provide further details, citing privacy concerns.

Authorities also revealed that after the murder, the accused allegedly got a photograph of himself with the victim tattooed on his chest.

The victim had reportedly married against her family’s wishes and was living independently at the time of her death. Police said her family has not yet come forward to claim the body.

The investigation is ongoing, and further legal proceedings are expected in the coming days.