MANDSAUR, INDIA: A woman who was believed murdered in 2023 returned home safe and well nearly two years later on March 11 in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district

The victim, 35-year-old Lalita Bai, went missing from the Gandhi Sagar area of Mandsaur in September 2023, after which a case was filed in Thandla town, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, registering her as a victim of "murder."

Meanwhile, four men arrested for the supposed killing continue to be in prison as reported by the Hindustan Times

Gandhi Sagar police station in-charge, Taruna Bharadwaj said Lalita Bai's relatives saw a body of a woman with her head crushed and believed it to be her.

"After we had filed a missing person report, Thandla police informed us about the recovery of a woman's body with her head crushed.

"We went there and identified it as the body of our daughter on the basis of a tattoo and a black string tied around her leg. We performed the last rites too," said Lalita's father Nanuram Banchhada.

Lalita Bai, a Navali village resident, said she left home on her own with a person named Shahrukh and traveled to Bhanpura, where he 'sold' her to another person also named Shahrukh without her knowledge, for 5 lakhs (RM25,800).

Lalita Bai alleged that the second man took her to Kota, Rajasthan, where she stayed with him for nearly 18 months.

"However, as soon as I got the opportunity, I ran away and came back. I do not have a mobile phone, so I was unable to contact my family members," Lalita Bai said.

Meanwhile, police arrested four men, including Shahrukh, on allegations of luring Lalita Bai away.

After her return, her father took her to the Gandhi Sagar police station to confirm that she was alive, prompting authorities to immediately notify the Thandla police of the development.

"It is for the Thandla police to take the necessary action against the four men who are in prison for Lalita Bai's murder," said Mandsaur Superintendent of Police (SP) Abishek Anand.

Jhabua SP Padma Vilochan Shukla said that the local court has sought information about the matter, adding that a thorough examination will be done to ascertain if the woman who turned up at Gandhi Sagar police station earlier this month is the same woman who was thought to have been murdered.

"We will first conduct a medical examination and DNA test of the woman, and also record afresh the statements of witnesses," he said.