Chandigarh, March 3: Two days after Youth Congress activist Himani Narwal’s body was found in a suitcase on a highway in Haryana’s Rohtak, the arrested man, Sachin, on Monday confessed that he knew the deceased and accused her of blackmail and extortion.

Haryana Police arrested the accused, a resident of Bahadurgarh, who was in an alleged relationship with Himani.

The suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation, saying they had been in a relationship for some time, a police official said.

During his arrest in Delhi, Sachin was found in possession of Himani Narwal’s mobile phone. The crime hogged the limelight after images of her walking with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra went viral.

The victim’s family, who has been demanding justice, suspected that some party leaders jealous of her swift rise in party ranks were behind the murder.

The woman’s body was found inside a suitcase near a flyover next to the Sampla bus stand in Rohtak on March 1. She had been missing for three days.

According to a preliminary investigation by the police, she was likely assaulted before being strangled to death. The autopsy report conducted in Rohtak’s PGIMS is awaited. She reportedly attended a wedding on February 27 in Rohtak and was supposed to attend a Congress roadshow on February 28. Her cell phone had been switched off since then.

“The government took swift action by arresting the killer within 24 hours,” said state Transport Minister Anil Vij.

Responding to allegations made by Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda regarding her murder, Vij countered by saying, “The government acts with complete promptness and seriousness… Hooda keeps making statements, it’s his habit.”

The victim’s brother, Jatin, said, “One accused has been arrested, and today we will cremate her body. A lot of rumours are being spread in the media… We will get justice.”

The police on Sunday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajneesh Kumar told the media that the victim, who was pursuing an LLB (Bachelor of Law), used to live alone in the state while her family was in Delhi.

The victim’s mother, on Sunday, blamed the elections and the party. “The election and the party took my daughter’s life. Because of this, she made some enemies. They (the accused) could be from the party, or they could be her friends as well…On February 28, she was at home,” the victim’s mother Savita said.

“She was going with Rahul Gandhi and was close to the Hooda family, which is why people were having problems; they were jealous,” she added.

Mumbai, March 3: Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande on Monday wrote a letter to Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, presenting a list of demands to enhance women’s safety in public transportation.

The move comes in response to the recent Pune bus rape case, which has sparked outrage over security lapses in the state’s transport system.

A 26-year-old woman was raped inside Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at the Swargate depot in Pune last week, leading to mass anger and outrage. After days of public outcry over the horrifying episode, the accused Dattatray Gade was arrested on Friday, after being on the run for almost a week.

Addressing the incident, Kayande called for immediate reforms to prevent such crimes in the future, stating, “After the Swargate incident, people were furious that such an act could happen inside a bus stand and in dilapidated buses.”

“Regardless of the situation, our demand is clear — every woman should be safe. CCTV cameras should be installed in all state transport buses, security guards should be stationed at every depot, and outdated buses should be phased out,” she told media.

She emphasised the importance of surveillance in crime prevention, stating, “Installing CCTV cameras will make it easier to catch offenders with perverted mindsets. This will aid in their arrest, prosecution, and rehabilitation. All these measures are crucial for ensuring women’s safety in public transport.”

Kayande also commented on the molestation case involving Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse’s daughter, calling it an “unfortunate” incident. However, she maintained that Maharashtra remains relatively safe for women.

“It is unfortunate that such incidents take place. The Union Minister herself was present and immediately filed a complaint, leading to swift police action. No matter who the accused are, strict action will be taken against them,” she added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Shamburaj Desai condemned the molestation case, assuring that all accused would soon be apprehended.

“The Chief Minister has given strict orders to local police officers to take action. Minister Raksha Khadse’s daughter is like our daughter, and any harassment against her is completely unacceptable. We strongly oppose such acts,” he told media.

He further stated that many suspects have already been arrested, and police teams have been deployed to track down the remaining accused. “Soon, all of them will be in custody,” he said.

The Jalgaon police have so far arrested three individuals and detained a minor in connection with the harassment and molestation of Minister Khadse’s daughter.

The arrested suspects include Aniket Bhoyi, Kiran Mali, Anuj Patil, and one minor. Police have registered cases against seven individuals and are continuing their search for the remaining accused.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have instructed that thorough patrolling be conducted at all depots in Mumbai to ensure that unused buses are cleared and that all buses parked illegally for an extended period are supervised. This action follows the rape case that happened at the Swargate bus depot of a 26-year-old woman in an MSRTC bus in Pune.

The Mumbai police have increased patrols at bus stops and locations where buses are parked in the city during the nighttime. The Mumbai police are on high alert.

Statement Made by the Mumbai Police

”A senior inspector from a police station in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai reported that they have communicated with the relevant authorities to address the issue of buses parked near depots in the area for several months to prevent potential misuse. The officer mentioned that officials have been deployed at the bus depots during the night to ensure that no untoward incidents occur”.

Additionally, police have been instructed to compile a list of individuals who have been arrested for crimes against women in recent years and are currently out on bail. They have also been directed to take written complaints from women regarding harassment seriously, including any complaints received in the past.

”A senior officer stated that while night patrols are a regular practice, renewed emphasis has been placed on this exercise. Officers have been advised to be vigilant and to question anyone loitering alone at night” as per media reports.