Indian couple charged for killing, burning Ranjodh Singh

MELBOURNE - An Indian couple has been arrested and charged with murdering a fellow countryman, Ranjodh Singh, by allegedly slashing his throat and setting his body on fire.

Singh’s body was found by a passer-by on Wilga Road, Willbriggie on December 29, 2009. And police is expected to charge at least another person with the grisly crime following the couple’s arrest in Sans Souci, in Sydney.

“We believe there was a common purpose - to kill Singh,” Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said.

The third person expected to be charged was also a casual fruit picker working in the Griffith area, the Daikly Telegraph reports.

The man, 23, was arrested whilst cleaning a car in a Sans Souci carwash, his manager said. The woman, 20, was arrested at a nearby house inhabited by other Indian nationals.

Both were believed to have lived in Griffith but fled to Sydney following Singh’s murder.

Immigration Department officials assisted during today’s police operation and interviewed a number of occupants at the Sans Souci home.

Investigations have revealed Singh was still alive at the time he was set alight by his assailants.

Strike Force Bramwell was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death.

Officers have made a number of public appeals for assistance with the local Wagga and Griffith communities providing significant information leading to today’s arrests.

Singh had been living in Wagga Wagga but working in Griffith at the time of his death. The Coroner has released his body and remains will be returned to his family in India. (ANI)