Refusal to marry ends in brutal killing in Jabalpur:19-year-old stabbed by fiancé after dowry demand of ₹5 lakh led to engagement called off

A 19-year-old woman was brutally stabbed to death in Jabalpur after she refused to marry her fiancé following a demand for Rs 5 lakh as dowry.
The accused, identified as Sahil Rajak, allegedly attacked the woman with the help of his friend, suspecting that she was involved in an affair. The victim, Richa Rajak, succumbed to her injuries during treatment at a medical college hospital on Friday. Police have arrested both accused and recovered the knife and the motorcycle used in the crime. Engagement turned fatal According to police, Richa and Sahil had known each other for nearly two years after meeting at a wedding. Belonging to the same community, their families had no objection to the relationship. With family consent, the two got engaged around two-and-a-half months ago, and their wedding was scheduled for February. However, shortly after the engagement, Sahil allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh as dowry and abused Richa’s family. Disturbed by the demand, Richa refused to go ahead with the marriage. Suspicion and Threats Police said Sahil suspected that Richa was having an affair and believed this was the reason she called off the wedding. Richa, who worked at a plastic factory in the Richaai industrial area, had reportedly received threats from Sahil over the phone in the days leading up to the attack. Stabbing in broad daylight The incident took place on Thursday evening under the jurisdiction of Adhartal police station. Richa was returning home from work when Sahil, accompanied by his friend Ajay Singh Thakur, intercepted her on a motorcycle in the Richaai industrial area. When Richa refused to talk to them, Sahil allegedly stabbed her three times in the neck and chest. Local residents attempted to catch the attackers, but they managed to flee the scene on the motorcycle. Richa was rushed to the district hospital and later referred to the medical college, where she died during treatment on Friday afternoon. Accused had been lurking near workplace Police investigations revealed that Sahil, a resident of Garha, had been roaming around the Richaai area for the past three days trying to locate Richa. He finally confronted her on Thursday evening when she left work. Arrest and Recovery Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh reached the spot soon after the incident and questioned eyewitnesses while reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas. The police launched a search operation and arrested Sahil and Ajay on Friday morning. “The accused fled the spot after the attack, but both were arrested within hours. We have recovered the knife used in the crime and the motorcycle,” ASP Singh said. Further investigation is underway.