MEERUT (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) — A complex murder investigation in Meerut has taken a dramatic turn as the woman found dead in the Mawana area on February 21 has been identified not as an Indian national, but as a citizen of Turkmenistan. The case, which initially appeared to be a local dispute, has now exposed a potential cross-border “flesh trade” network and a significant lapse in the initial police identification.
From Mistaken Identity to Global Investigation
When the body was first discovered near Bhagwati Farm House on the Meerut-Bijnor highway, police found a disfigured face and an Aadhaar card identifying the victim as Archita Arora from Delhi (originally Ambala). Based on this, they arrested four men and declared the case “solved.”
- The Challenge: On February 25, two women—one from Turkmenistan and one from Uzbekistan—approached the Mawana police. They asserted that the deceased was actually Najmudinova Muhabbat Sunatovna, a 40-year-old Turkmenistan national who had been living in India for roughly 15 years.
- The Confirmation: Muhabbat’s mother, Gulnara Sunatovna, identified her daughter via video call from Turkmenistan, recognizing her earrings and distinctive tattoos on her hand and waist (which the accused had tried to burn with acid to prevent identification).
- The Forged Identity: Investigation revealed that Muhabbat’s original passport had expired in 2019 and was likely held by middlemen. She had been living under the fake identity of “Archita Arora” using a forged Aadhaar card.
The Crime and the Arrests
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Abhijeet Kumar confirmed that despite the identity mix-up, the four men previously arrested remain the primary suspects.
| Accused | Role | Current Status |
| Chanchal Kumar (alias Bunty) | Operator of Avika Hotel, Partapur | Arrested (Feb 26) |
| Gurmukh (alias Arvind) | Associate | Arrested (Feb 26) |
| Sandeep (alias Sittu) | Associate | Arrested (Feb 26) |
| Vivek (alias Kaka) | Associate | Arrested (Feb 26) |
The Motive: Cops state a dispute over money occurred while the group was drinking at Avika Hotel. When Muhabbat allegedly threatened to file a “false rape case” against them, the men smothered her with a blanket, transported her body in a car, and doused her face and hands with acid to hide her identity before dumping her in Mawana.
Diplomatic Involvement
The Meerut police have now reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Turkmenistan Embassy to verify documents and manage the repatriation of the victim’s remains (currently cremated ash). The mother has authorized her associate, Aziza, to take custody of the remains.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Meerut: Dead woman turns out to be foreign national; mistaken identity leads police to arrest 4” (March 4, 2026)
- Times of India: “Woman found dead in UP turns out to be ‘Turkmenistan citizen’” (March 3, 2026)
- Hindustan Times: “Woman from Turkmenistan killed, four arrested in Meerut” (March 3, 2026)
- Jagran: “जिसे समझ रहे थे भारत की अर्चिता, वह निकली तुর্কमेनिस्तान की मोहब्बत” (March 3, 2026)
- Rediff News: “Turkmenistan National Found Dead in Meerut: Identity and Investigation Updates” (March 4, 2026)
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