What Happened in Balaghat? Jilted Lover Slaughters Woman at Bus Stand
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Brutal murder of Ritu Bhandarkar in broad daylight.
- Public apathy as bystanders recorded the attack.
- Incident occurred at a busy bus stand in Balaghat.
- Suspect Roshan Dharve was detained and is under investigation.
- The community mourns the tragic loss of a dedicated family member.
Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), Nov 11 (NationPress) — In a horrifying incident that has shaken Madhya Pradesh, a 23-year-old woman was viciously murdered in broad daylight at a crowded bus terminal, her throat brutally slit by a former lover while onlookers recorded the atrocity instead of stepping in to assist the victim.
The shocking attack, captured on numerous mobile devices, unfolded around 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Amgaon Fata in the Baihar tehsil of Balaghat district, transforming what should have been a routine morning commute into a nightmarish scene.
The footage of this horrific act quickly circulated on social media.
The victim was identified as Ritu Bhandarkar, an employee at a local furniture shop in Baihar, who was waiting for her daily bus to work when the assailant, Roshan Dharve, approached her.
Having known each other for nearly five years, their relationship soured recently when Ritu stopped communicating with him, igniting Roshan's fury.
Originating from Motinala village in Garhi tehsil, Roshan allegedly tracked Ritu's routine and rode a motorcycle to the location, concealing a knife in his pocket.
Eyewitnesses and viral videos documented an escalating confrontation that turned savage as Roshan threw Ritu to the ground, stomped on her, and stabbed her several times before delivering the fatal cut to her throat.
As she lay bleeding and unconscious on the roadside, he wiped his bloodied hands on her dupatta and collapsed nearby — possibly from exhaustion or remorse — leaving the murder weapon and their mobile phones beside him.
Numerous bystanders, including commuters and villagers, stood paralyzed across the road under the midday sun, some shouting for help or weeping, but none dared to approach the knife-wielding attacker.
"He kept claiming she betrayed him and that he wouldn't allow her to leave," one video snippet reveals, highlighting the personal vendetta that fueled this public brutality.
Ritu was the sole provider for her family, living with her parents and younger brother, who studies in Balaghat.
Recognized in her community for her dedication and punctuality, her tragic death has left her family heartbroken and the village in mourning.
The Baihar police quickly arrived at the scene, securing the area with assistance from a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team.
They recovered the bloodied knife, both mobile phones for call record analysis, the dupatta, and Ritu's bag.
Her body was rapidly sent for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death and strengthen the evidence.
According to police officials, Roshan, who was found unconscious near the body, was detained and taken to a hospital under custody for medical treatment before interrogation resumes.
A murder case has been filed against him, with authorities pledging to expedite proceedings and scrutinize digital footprints for any prior threats.