VARANASI, June 26 -- : A 37-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her lover in the Beejpur police station area of Sonbhadra district. The accused allegedly mutilated her face to prevent her identification.

The case came to light on Thursday evening after police arrested the main accused, Lale Panika alias Lala Bhaiya, 44, in connection with the murder. Police shared details of the case on Friday.

According to police, the woman and Panika were in a relationship. She was allegedly pressuring him to marry her. Panika, along with his associate Suresh, allegedly took her to a forest at Motki Pahadi on June 19, where they strangled her to death. They then crushed her face with a stone to hide her identity before dumping the body in the bus...