Police in Dhule district seized four suspects after a 31‑year‑old pregnant woman, Pinky Hanumant Katka, was found burnt near Garatad Bari on the Dhule‑Solapur Highway. The corpse, partially charred, lay in a deserted hilly area, its distance from the original site a stark hint that the body had been moved.
The investigation began when CCTV footage from the Saptasur Cultural Art Centre in Ahilyanagar’s Jamkhed area recorded an altercation that escalated into an assault. Technical analysis linked the suspect vehicle to the central incident, revealing that Katka had become unconscious during the dispute and was mistakenly presumed dead by the assailants.
After the body was transported 275 kilometres to Dhule, the accused allegedly poured petrol over it before igniting the flames. The charred remains were discovered by local villagers, who immediately notified authorities.
Four men have been taken into custody while two other suspects remain at large. Police teams have been dispatched to the surrounding hills to trace any leads and apprehend the fugitives.
Nagind More reports that the local community is grappling with the horror, with neighbors recalling Katka as a devoted mother‑to‑be who vanished before her due date. The case now falls under the purview of the Maharashtra Police’s special investigations wing.
The next step involves a comprehensive forensic review of the burnt body and a coordinated search operation aimed at locating the remaining accused before they cross state borders.