The Rohtak police on Saturday claimed to have solved the murder mystery of 26-year-old Neeraj, a resident of Ismaila village, with the arrest of two suspects. Neeraj's beheaded body was discovered in a pool of blood at the village waterworks on June 15 morning.
Accused Identified
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ravinder, alias Nanha (30), and Jatin, alias Baaman, both residents of the same village. The third accused, Sachin, alias Kale, who is Neeraj's neighbor, remains at large. Police are conducting raids at his suspected hideouts to apprehend him.
Motive: Old Enmity
DSP Sampla Rakesh Malik stated that Neeraj's fellow villagers were involved in his murder due to an old enmity. The assailants bludgeoned him with bricks and a liquor bottle before severing his head with a 'kassi', a spade-like farming tool.
According to the investigation, Neeraj had gone out with friends Rajendra and Sandeep in a car on June 14 evening. They purchased liquor from the Sampla bypass and consumed it under the Jhajjar-Rohtak flyover. When Neeraj wanted to drink more, the others refused and dropped him off in the village. While walking home, he encountered the three accused: Sachin, Ravinder, and Jatin.
DSP Malik further informed that Sachin took Neeraj on his motorcycle to the Chuliyan turn and bought more liquor. They then proceeded to the waterworks via a canal route, where they drank together. Later, the accused assaulted Neeraj with bricks and a liquor bottle. Once he lost consciousness, they severed his head and fled.
Criminal Background
Sachin had been released from jail on bail on June 3 and is an accused in three theft cases and one snatching case. The other two suspects have no prior criminal record.
Over five years ago, Neeraj's family was involved in a scuffle with Sachin's family, during which Sachin's father sustained injuries. To settle the score, Sachin perpetrated the crime. Efforts are underway to apprehend him, while Ravinder and Jatin have been taken into police remand for further investigation.
Case Registration and Family Standoff
The Sampla police had registered a case against unidentified persons based on a complaint by Neeraj's brother, Naresh Kumar. Following the murder, the family refused to permit Neeraj's post-mortem until the accused were arrested. After a three-day standoff, the family relented, and the body was cremated after the post-mortem.
