Murdered Indian woman and daughter’s funeral in New Zealand today

NORTH ISLAND - The funerals of murdered 32-year-old Indian woman Ravneet Sangha and her 18-month-old daughter Anna will be held at Pyes Pa Crematorium chapel in Tauranga, New Zealand, today.

The mother and daughter will be cremated in accordance with Sikh customs.

Ravneet was found dead in a house in Otumoetai, a Tauranga suburb, on Sunday evening, while Anna’s body was found on Tuesday afternoon- almost 20 hours later - as it had been concealed in the house.

Dev Sangha, Ravneet’s husband, had been holidaying in India when he was informed about her death and, initially, the disappearance of their daughter Anna.

He touched down at the Auckland International Airport on Tuesday, and formally identified the bodies on Wednesday.

Police have charged Deepak Nagpal, a 23-year-old of Indian descent, as the prime accused in Ravneet’s murder.

He appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Thursday, and was remanded in custody until June 25.

Police said that he was likely to face further charges and described him as being “associated with the address”.

Nagpal had boarded with the Sangha family for months. He is believed to have studied business in Auckland until March, and had returned from a visit to India on June 1, The New Zealand Herald reports.

He travelled from Auckland to Tauranga last week, before returning to Auckland, where he was arrested.

Meanwhile, Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander, Inspector Mike Clement, said that post-mortem examinations on both bodies have provided conclusive results. (ANI)