The body of a Public Works Department (PWD) engineer was found two days after he was reported missing in a canal in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday. His wife had filed the missing person’s report, which prompted the police to launch an investigation.
According to a PTI report, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lucknow East) Shashank Singh said that the body was found in the Indira Nagar canal near the Gosainganj area. The body has been identified as that of an assistant engineer in the Public Works Department of Vivek Kumar Soni.
According to Singh, Soni's wife had reported him missing on Tuesday at the Ashiana police station, after he left home and did not return.
Upon investigation, the police found his motorcycle near the canal on Wednesday. The police enlisted the SDRF team to search the canal, which ultimately led to the recovery of his body on Thursday. "The body has been sent for post-mortem after completing legal formalities. Further action will be taken based on the autopsy report," Singh added.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Congress criticised the state's law and order situation in connection with the incident.
The party posted on the social media platform X, "PWD engineer Vivek Soni, who was working in Lucknow, was found dead in Indira Dam today. He had been missing for two days. The police remained clueless from the time he disappeared until his death. No one is safe in the state, and this is the only achievement of 'power-hungry' Baba Ji [Yogi Adityanath] in eight years."
Delhi Man Bludgeoned To Death Thrown In Borewell
In another incident, three people were arrested for allegedly bludgeoning a man to death with bricks and dumping his body in a borewell pit at an under-construction pump house in Delhi. The deceased has been identified as Chandan
The accused have been identified as Suraj, 24, Ankit, 20, and Abhishek, 22, all residents of Swaroop Nagar. According to officials, Suraj and Abhishek have prior involvement in three criminal cases each.
Suraj, who was recently arrested in an Arms Act case, suspected that Chandan was behind his arrest and conspired with the other two accused to murder him, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outernorth) Nidhin Valsan.
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The incident took place on March 22 when Suraj invited Chandan under the pretext of drinking together. After consuming excessive alcohol, the accused attacked Chandan with bricks, killing him on the spot, Valsan stated.
"They then dumped his body in a borewell pit at an under-construction pump house and covered it with bricks. On March 23, Chandan’s family approached the police after he failed to return home,” said the DCP.
A missing person report was registered at Swaroop Nagar Police Station. During the investigation, CCTV footage revealed that Chandan was last seen with Suraj. Based on this, Suraj was detained for questioning. Upon sustained interrogation, he confessed to the crime and revealed Ankit and Abhishek's involvement in the matter.
Following their arrest, they led the police team to the crime scene, where Chandan’s body was recovered. The bricks used in the murder were also seized from the spot. A stolen scooty allegedly used to transport the victim’s body, along with his mobile phone were also recovered.