The case involving the murder of an inter-caste couple, suspected victims of 'honour killing,' in New Delhi on Tuesday turned murkier with the cousin sister of one of the victims, who too had eloped with a man of different caste, found shot dead in a car.
The police on Tuesday recovered the body of 22-year-old Shobha, a cousin of Monica who along with her husband Kuldeep was allegedly murdered on Sunday by her brother Ankit and cousin Mandeep for marrying in another caste.
Shobha is Mandeep's sister and had earlier eloped with a person outside her community. Mandeep and Ankit are absconding and the police suspect both to be involved in Shobha's murder too.
However, DCP North West N S Bundela said they suspected the involvement of more than two persons.
Police feel that the perpetrators of the crime could have been enraged over inter-caste marriages in the family which apparently started with Monica, 24, who was followed by her cousin sister Shobha.
Mandeep's another sister Khushbu, who too has married a man belonging to a different community, is under police protection, police said, but did not say if the murders prompted the step.
Police said Shobha's body was lying in the car at H-Block in Ashok Vihar Phase-I in northwest Delhi. The vehicle belonged to a relative of 26-year-old Kuldeep. The car was missing since the murder of the couple.
Sobha was apparently shot in the head.
"We have recovered a bullet shell. Most probably she has been shot dead. The body has been sent for postmortem. Anything substantial about her death can be said only after a report by autopsy doctors," Bundela said.
Shobha's body was lying in the back seat of the car, which was locked from inside, and was identified by her another brother Sandeep, police said.
A resident of Ashok Vihar Phase-I, spotted the car from which blood was trickling down and informed the police.
Police said the car belonged to Kuldeep's cousin Rahul who had helped Kuldeep and Monica get married four years ago. He was then allegedly beaten up mercilessly by Monica's brothers for helping the couple.
Locals said that the car was parked there since Monday evening. But nobody had noticed who had parked the car.
"Who are the accused, I can't disclose at this point of time. It will not be good to share the details of investigation," the DCP said.
To a question on what could have triggered the murders, he said, "I can't say anything on this now. We can clear the picture only after accused are arrested."
When asked about the number of suspects, he said, " It is hard to tell but they should be more than two persons."