Man held for strangulating woman to death

One person was arrested in connection with an alleged murder of a woman in Mumbra here four months ago, police said today.
Body of an unidentified woman, strangulated with a saree, was recovered from Thakurpada area of Mumbra on February 18 and a case under IPC section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) was registered.
Crime Branch Thane-I unit inspector Nitin Thackeray said during the probe it was found out that the woman used to live in Mumbra and sold leaves of 'umbar' tree.
Based on this information, identity of the victim was established and police teams were sent to Shahapur, Vashind, Khadavali, Karjat and Asangaon.

The woman was identified as Ranjana from Vehloli village in Shahapur taluka in the district, who lived in Mumbra with a man, named Bandu alias Bandya raghunath Mukne (30), the officer said.
Ranjana and Bandu used to work together. On a tip off that Bandu was visiting Mumbra on June 10, a police team kept a vigil and nabbed him as soon as he arrived.

During interrogation, Bandu told the crime branch that Ranjana was a widow and has been living with him for the past one-half-year. However, she later started getting close to another man, which was disliked by him, Thackeray said.

Hence, he decided to eliminate Ranjana and made a plot to kill her with help of two others, identified as - Ravi and Sanjay.
Police has launched a manhunt to nab the remaining two accused and the case has been now handed over to Mumbra police.