Meerut, 16 Oct (HS): A lady has been detained,

along with two accomplices, for allegedly planning to kill her

stepmother-in-law over a family property dispute, police said Thursday.

According to authorities, the accused, Komal, planned the murder after growing

resentful of her stepmother-in-law, Seema Devi, who indicated a desire to adopt

a child. Komal felt that adoption would limit her part of the family's

possessions. According to police, she reportedly hired her brother Bhavya to

carry out the murder for Rs 1.5 lakh, as per the plot. According to the

Superintendent of Police (Rural), on October 12, Bhavya entered the family

house in the Sardhana region wearing a mask and shot Seema Devi in the leg,

gravely injuring her. The gunshot, however, was not lethal.

Mukesh Chand, Seema Devi's husband,

filed a police report the same day, and a case of attempted murder was filed at

the Sardhana police station. Two special teams, as well as a SWAT (Dehat)

squad, were organized to investigate. During his interrogation, Bhavya

confessed that the weapon used, a.32 bore pistol, was given by his buddy

Harshit, who has also been detained.

Bhavya's revelation helped police retrieve the pistol. All three

suspects, Komal, Bhavya, and Harshit, were apprehended in a combined operation

by Sardhana police and the SWAT squad, according to authorities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi