Chennai: Chennai police teams are conducting searches at multiple locations in Odisha as part of an ongoing probe into the murder of a woman from Jagatsinghpur, police and railway officials said on Sunday. Investigators have identified a man and a woman — named in media reports as Manik Uddin Laskar (from Assam) and Bhagabati Majhi (from Odisha) — as suspects in the case and are working to establish their movements and connections.
How the case came to light
The matter surfaced after railway staff discovered a red trolley bag containing decomposed and beheaded human body parts in a rear general compartment of Train No. 12621, the Tamil Nadu Express, at Agra station on August 5, officials said. The Agra Government Railway Police (GRP) subsequently registered a case and later confirmed the remains belonged to Hayathun Nisha, 38, a native of Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha who was reportedly employed at a private firm in Chennai.
“The body parts of Hayathun Nisha, 38, were found inside a suitcase on the Chennai-Delhi Tamil Nadu Express near Agra in Uttar Pradesh.”
Leads traced to Chennai
During its inquiry, the Agra GRP and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Crime Intelligence Branch examined CCTV footage from Chennai Central. The footage reportedly showed a man and a woman boarding the Tamil Nadu Express at around 10 pm on August 3, carrying a trolley bag similar to the one later found near Agra, and disembarking before the train reached its destination.
Investigators traced the pair to rented accommodation on Masuthi Street in Guduvanchery, on the southern outskirts of Chennai, and alerted the local police. A subsequent search of the rented premises on Friday allegedly led to the recovery of more body parts kept inside a large box, according to reports.
Investigative agencies involved
- Agra Government Railway Police (GRP) — registered the first FIR after the trolley bag was discovered.
- Railway Protection Force (RPF), Crime Intelligence Branch — examined CCTV and traced movements to Chennai.
- Chennai Government Railway Police and local Chennai police — carried out enquiries at the Guduvanchery residence and are coordinating with investigators in Odisha.
Police in Chennai have deployed teams to Odisha to search for the couple named in media reports. The effort aims to determine whether the suspects are in custody, still within the state or elsewhere, and to collect further evidence linking them to the crime.
Victim and alleged circumstances
According to official confirmation reported by media, the deceased, identified as Hayathun Nisha, had been staying in Chennai for work. Local enquiries established she was living in a rented house in Guduvanchery with the couple who were later identified as suspects. The precise motive for the killing and the circumstances that led to the dismemberment are under investigation.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| August 3 | Man and woman reportedly boarded Tamil Nadu Express from Chennai at around 10 pm (CCTV footage). |
| August 5 | Red trolley bag with decomposed body parts found in a rear general compartment at Agra station; Agra GRP registered a case. |
| Recent (Friday) | Search of Guduvanchery rented premises reportedly yielded additional body parts in a large box. |
Officials have not released a public statement detailing forensic confirmations, identity documents recovered at the scene, or the formal charges framed so far. The investigation remains active across multiple jurisdictions.
Local impact and next steps
The case has prompted coordination between railway police units and local law enforcement in Chennai and Odisha. Authorities said they would continue examining electronic evidence, witness statements and forensic samples to establish a timeline and determine culpability.
Residents of Guduvanchery and nearby localities have expressed concern at the gravity of the allegations, while police have ramped up enquiries to ensure public safety and gather further leads. The Tamil Nadu police and railway authorities are also expected to share findings with counterparts in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha as the probe progresses.
Further details, including any arrests, formal charges and forensic reports, will be released by the investigating agencies as they become available.
