Bihar man beheads second wife over domestic dispute; 6 children left from 2 marriages

A woman was found murdered and beheaded in Gulzarbagh village under Islampur police station limits in Nalanda district, Bihar. Police said the killing is suspected to have taken place between Sunday night and early Monday morning. The accused, identified as 55-year-old Sanjay Manjhi, is currently absconding.

The victim has been identified as 60-year-old Girani Devi, the second wife of Sanjay Manjhi. He is originally from Sewanan village in Jehanabad district and had been living in Gulzarbagh with his in-laws for the past 23 years. Sanjay had three children from his first wife, who is deceased, and three children from his second marriage with Girani Devi. The children from the first marriage live in Sewanan, while the others lived with the couple.

According to the victim’s son, Dhanteras Manjhi, he went to sleep in the village community hall after dinner on Sunday. When he returned home on Monday morning, he found the door open and discovered his mother lying in a pool of blood with her head severed from her body. He then informed the neighbours and police.

Upon receiving information, officers from Islampur police station reached the spot, and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team examined the crime scene. Police took the body into custody and sent it to the model hospital in Bihar Sharif for post-mortem. Bloodstains and the suspected murder weapon, a spade, were recovered from the scene.

Islampur police said multiple teams have been formed to locate and arrest the accused. Preliminary findings suggest that the killing occurred following a domestic altercation between the couple. Efforts to trace Sanjay Manjhi are ongoing.