A woman in Bihar, who died several years ago, was elected as a panchayat samiti member in the recently concluded 10-phase panchayat elections, officials said on Friday.
The woman, Mithlesh Devi, was allegedly murdered by her husband nine years ago in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district.
According to documents, Mithlesh Devi was elected panchayat samiti member from Tikauli panchayat in Sitamarhi after she filed her nomination papers and contested the panchayat polls.
However, officials pointed out that Mithlesh was murdered nine years ago and her husband Sikandar Mukhiya is the main accused in the case.
Sikandar, too, has been missing and on the run since the incident — at least on paper.
Sikandar, who is roaming free, played a trick by fielding his second wife Gudia Devi in the name of his first wife Mithlesh Devi. “Sikandar, who is accused in her murder, had his second wife contest in the name of Mithlesh in the hope that he will be acquitted in the case,” a district police official said.
Sitamarhi District Magistrate Rajeev Roshan has ordered an investigation.
