Woman arrested in Punjab’s Muktsar after husband, mother-in-law die after eating dinner laced with poison

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Four months into her marriage, a 33-year-old woman in Punjab’s Muktsar district allegedly poisoned her husband and in-laws on Monday, resulting in the deaths of her husband and mother-in-law, the police said. Her father-in-law remains critical.The incident occurred in Gurusar village on Monday night. The police identified the accused as Khushmandeep Kaur, adding that she was arrested on Thursday. While the exact motive behind the crime is still under investigation, the police believe an extramarital affair was a likely factor.The man Khushmandeep was allegedly in a relationship with, Chamkaur Singh, a resident of Kotli Kalan village in Gidderbaha, was also arrested. According to the police, she was in regular contact with Chamkaur, and chat records point to his alleged involvement in the case.“She confessed to poisoning the food with insecticide and admitted she was unhappy in the marriage as she wanted to stay with her paramour,” said Avtar Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Gidderbaha. “She was taken into three-day police remand on Thursday, while Chamkaur will be produced in court on Friday.”Akhil Chaudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muktsar, said the forensic team has collected food samples from the crime scene.According to the police, Khushmandeep and Shivtaar Singh, 40, got married in February. On Monday, she allegedly laced the flour with insecticide while kneading dough, then served dinner to Shivtaar, his parents Surjit Singh and Jaswinder Kaur, and consumed a few bites herself, claiming she was not hungry.Soon after dinner, all four began vomiting and experienced severe diarrhoea. Shivtaar’s brother, Jagtar Singh, who stays next door, and neighbours rushed them to a private hospital in Gidderbaha, and later to the Civil Hospital.Story continues below this adShivtaar was referred to a Bathinda hospital, where he died during treatment early Tuesday morning. His mother passed away the following night, the police said.Doctors confirmed poisoning as the cause, Jagtar said.Also Read | The poison kitchen: Karnataka woman laces food with sleeping pills to murder family, arrestedThe police grew suspicious when Khushmandeep’s symptoms remained mild. “She had only light diarrhoea and was admitted to a private hospital in Gidderbaha, but discharged on Thursday once her condition stabilised,” DSP Avtar Singh added.Police sources alleged that within four months of getting married, Khushmandeep had once left her marital home to be with her alleged boyfriend but was brought back by the family after a compromise. During interrogation, she allegedly said that she took the extreme step as she was unwilling to continue in the marriage.This was allegedly Khushmandeep’s second marriage. “We only learned of her past marriage after this tragedy,” Jagtar said.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:arrestedPunjab