JHANSI: A 40-year-old woman autorickshaw driver was found dead near her vehicle in Jhansi, police said.Authorities confirmed that she died from a gunshot injury.The deceased has been identified as Anita Chaudhary, who was believed to be the city’s first woman autorickshaw driver.Jhansi Senior Superintendent of Police BBGTS Murthy said police received a Dial 112 call shortly after midnight reporting a woman lying injured on Station Road under the Nawabad police station limits. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared her dead.A trailblazer who worked nights to support her familyA resident of Talpura, Anita had been driving an autorickshaw since 2021 to support her family and raise her three children during the Covid pandemic. She mostly worked night shifts, ferrying passengers from the railway station.In December 2021, she was felicitated by the then DIG of the Jhansi range, Jogendra Chaudhary, for her courage and determination.On Sunday night, she left home around 10.30pm, as she routinely did for work.Robbery claim and family’s allegationsOn Monday morning, Anita’s sister Vinita alleged that she was shot dead during a robbery. She named a suspect and said there had been an earlier altercation between Anita and the same person.She also claimed that a friend accompanying Anita at the time of the attack witnessed the incident but fled in panic.FIR, arrests and manhuntBased on a complaint filed by Anita’s husband, police registered an FIR for murder against Mukesh Jha and his associates Manoj Jha and Shivam Jha.SSP Murthy said Manoj and Shivam were arrested, while Mukesh Jha went absconding. A reward of Rs 25,000 was announced for information leading to his arrest.Police said the postmortem was conducted by a panel of doctors and videographed. Further investigation is ongoing.According to police sources, the accused and the victim had known each other for the past six to seven years.Chase ends in police encounterInvestigators later found Jha’s Ignis car abandoned on the Notghat bridge over the Betwa River, but he could not be traced immediately.Days later, police confronted him on a dirt road between Bhagwantpura and Karguan. Officials said that when officers tried to stop him, Jha opened fire at the police.In retaliatory firing, a bullet hit Jha in the leg. He was overpowered and taken to a medical college for treatment. Police recovered a pistol and cartridges from his possession.A story of love and betrayal, police sayPreeti Singh, Superintendent of Police (City), said investigations revealed that Jha and Anita Chaudhary were in a relationship six to seven years ago.The two had married but the relationship did not last, and Chaudhary later left him, police said.Unable to accept the separation, Jha allegedly began planning her murder, believing he had been betrayed. Police said he chose the night of their wedding anniversary to carry out the attack.According to investigators, he shot her while she was driving her autorickshaw during her night shift
