The body of a 24-year-old man, who had been missing for three days, was discovered in a thicket under Pushta Road in Noida's Sector 126 area on Thursday night. Police have confirmed the victim was strangled to death.
Decomposed Body Spotted by Locals
On Thursday evening, residents of the area noticed a decomposed body in the bushes and immediately alerted the authorities. Police officials rushed to the scene and began their investigation. To establish the identity of the deceased, people from nearby localities were called in. The body was later identified as that of Ajay Mukhia, a native of Samastipur district in Bihar.
Police Investigation Points to Murder
Preliminary investigation and post-mortem report findings indicate that Ajay was strangled. The police suspect the involvement of more than one person in the crime. As part of the probe, officers have questioned at least ten suspects. A few relatives of the deceased were also detained for questioning to gather more information.
Investigators are exploring multiple angles, including the possibility of illicit relationships or financial disputes leading to the murder. Some local residents claimed to have seen injury marks on the body when it was found.
Search for Clues and Family's Anguish
Ajay Mukhia lived in a makeshift settlement in the floodplain area opposite Raipur village in Noida with his relatives, including his brother-in-law. He was a daily-wage labourer and the sole breadwinner for his family. His wife and family reside in Bihar.
He was last seen on December 28. His worried relatives waited through the night and conducted an extensive search for him the following day. When all efforts failed, they filed a formal missing person's complaint at the Sector 126 police station.
Police are now scanning CCTV footage from the vicinity to trace the movements of the victim and potential suspects. Expressing confidence in cracking the case, a senior police officer stated, "We expect to crack the case within a couple of days."
