A 24-year-old woman’s decomposed body was discovered on Friday in a 10-foot-deep ditch along a residential street in Faridabad, Haryana. The body, which had to be exhumed with the help of an excavator, was identified as Tanu, a native of Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh. She had been married for nearly two years to Arun, a resident of Roshan Nagar in Faridabad.

According to police, four members of Tanu's in-laws’ family, her husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and another close relative, have been taken into custody.

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Tanu’s body was discovered buried beneath a recently laid concrete section of a public lane next to the house where she had lived with her husband and his family. Neighbours informed police that the area had been dug up around two months ago for the construction of a wastewater drain.

The body was exhumed around 8:00 a.m. and has been sent for forensic examination to determine the exact time and cause of death.

Tanu’s sister, Preeti, alleged that Tanu faced both mental and physical harassment following her marriage in 2023. She claimed that Arun and his parents began demanding gold jewellery and money as dowry shortly after the wedding. Despite trying to meet these demands as much as possible, Tanu’s family was repeatedly pressured, Preeti said.

"Tanu came back to live with us at our maternal home just months after the wedding because she was not being treated well. She stayed with us for over a year. When we finally sent her back, the torture resumed. They wouldn't let her speak to us, not even on phone calls," Tanu’s sister Preeti said, according to the NDTV report. 

Preeti also alleged that on April 23, Tanu’s in-laws informed the family that she had run away from home.

She added that her suspicions were first raised on April 9, when she was unable to reach Tanu by phone. Concerned, the family approached the police, but Preeti claimed that no significant action was taken for several weeks.

Local residents have since told police and reporters that Tanu’s father-in-law dug the pit in April, claiming it was needed due to the lack of a proper drainage system for the house. They also noted that the pit was quickly filled in and covered with a cement slab.

"Everyone in the neighbourhood saw the pit being dug. He said it was for dirty water. After that, the daughter-in-law was never seen again. Some of us thought something was wrong, but no one could imagine this," said a neighbour, according to the NDTV report. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Usha Kundu, confirmed that a formal complaint was received approximately a week ago.

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"After receiving the complaint a week ago, the police took immediate action. The body has been recovered from the pit. Four people have been detained and interrogation is underway. The matter is being thoroughly investigated," she said.

The recovered body has been sent for forensic examination to determine the exact time and cause of death.