DU professor murder case: Couple arrested, property dispute suspected behind killing

NEW DELHI: Police have arrested a man and his wife in connection with the murder of a Delhi University assistant professor, Dr Debosmita Paul, in New Ashok Nagar.The couple was known to the victim, and the motive appears to be a property dispute. They were nabbed from West Bengal.At the time of the incident, they also had a child with them, whom they left outside the professor’s apartment before going inside and attacking her.Police suspect that the professor's maternal grandfather owned a property in West Bengal. The couple allegedly wanted to purchase it, but the professor refused to sell it.The 42-year-old professor was found dead in her apartment in east Delhi’s Vasundhara Enclave on Thursday.She taught English at Shivaji College, Delhi University, and lived alone in Satyam Apartment while her parents resided nearby.Police said they received a PCR call around 2.35pm at New Ashok Nagar police station from the victim’s sister, Devarati Paul, 49, who reported that her sister had been murdered at her residence.“Devarati had been trying to reach Debosmita all day, but her calls went unanswered. Concerned, she went to the apartment and found it locked from outside,” a senior officer said.“Suspecting something was wrong, she broke the lock and found her sister dead inside.”A police team rushed to the spot and found the victim on a bed with severe head injuries. Preliminary investigation suggests she was attacked with a blunt object.Police also found injuries on her wrists, indicating that a sharp-edged weapon may have been used during the assault.