LUCKNOW: A wrong number, which initially blossomed into a secret love affair eventually ended in the murder of a 30-year-old woman in Hardoi two years ago. The crime came to light after the arrests of two suspects and the recovery of her skeleton from a well on Friday.“It all started in February 2023 when the woman, Sonam, accidentally dialled a wrong number, which was answered by one Maseedul. The duo had a conversation after which they started talking daily. Both Sonam and Maseedul, who were married, developed a friendship which soon blossomed into a secret love affair,” a police officer said.Maseedul was based in Hardoi while Sonam’s husband worked outside UP. “Sonam went missing on August 6, 2023, after which her father-in-law lodged a complaint of abduction. However, she could not be traced for two years despite a probe by six officers,” the officer said. In June this year, ASP (east) Nripendra ordered rthe eopening of the case. Local CO Santosh Singh examined 3,000 call records and noticed a number that had connected with Sonam only once.“The number led the police to Gujarat, where it was found that the telecom company had allotted the number to another man after its previous user had discontinued it. Police found the number previously belonged to Maseedul but was being used by one of his relatives. That night, Sonam’s call was received by Maseedul,” Singh said.Investigations revealed that after Sonam went missing, she started secretly staying with Maseedul. The couple first moved to Delhi but later returned to Hardoi and started living at Maseedul’s house. “On August 8, 2023, Sonam had a tiff with Maseedul, after which he, along with his brother Shamsheedul and father Ayub, killed Sonam and threw her body into the well,” Singh said.While Samsheedul and Ayub have been arrested, Maseedul is on the run. The interrogation of Shamsheedul and Ayub led the cops to the well and the skeleton. Police said Sonam had pressured Maseedul to marry her, but he was not ready. “Ayub and Shamsheedul have confessed. Sonam’s clothes, sandals, and hair clip were recovered (from the well),” an officer said.
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