The police claimed to have solved a double murder case within 24 hours with the arrest of a 24-year-old gardener accused of killing two co-workers at a private management institute in Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park-3 area.
The accused, Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Meerut, was arrested near the Gurjarpur railway line falling under the jurisdiction of the Knowledge Park police station following a police encounter. A country-made pistol and live cartridges were recovered from his possession.
The victims, identified as Sheeshpal and Indra, alias Dharmendra, both aged 45 and residents of Meerut, were found dead with multiple injuries inside an under-construction hostel on the institute premises on Friday morning.
According to the police, all three men recently came to Greater Noida to work as gardeners at the institute. The police suspected the role of Abhishek after he fled the premises before the bodies were discovered.
“Given the suspicious circumstances, a case under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered,” Greater Noida DCP Dr. Pravin Ranjan Singh said.
The police said Abhishek was intercepted on Saturday on a dirt track leading towards the Gurjarpur railway line. Following his arrest, another case under Section 109 of the BNS (attempt to murder) and relevant provisions of the Arms Act was registered against him.
During interrogation, Abhishek allegedly confessed to the killings and told investigators that he harboured a long-standing grudge against Sheeshpal over the latter’s past relationship with his deceased sister. He also alleged that both victims frequently mocked him over the issue.
According to the police, Abhishek had planned the murders before reaching Greater Noida and joined the same workplace on the pretext of seeking employment.
Investigators said on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, the accused allegedly made the two men consume alcohol while he remained largely sober. After the victims fell asleep in an intoxicated state, Abhishek allegedly attacked Sheeshpal with a shovel, repeatedly striking him on the head and body.
Indra woke up during the assault, after which Abhishek allegedly attacked him as well, inflicting multiple blows to his head and other parts of the body.
The bodies were discovered on Friday morning, triggering an investigation that led to the accused’s arrest within a day.
