Noida Police cracks twin 'drowning' death case, arrests one man

With the arrest of a 25-year-old man, the police in Gautam Buddh Nagar today claimed to have cracked a two-month-old case in which two persons were drowned but their death was considered accidental.

Saurabh Singh, a resident of Kashyap Colony in Sector-48 here, was arrested yesterday for killing his friend Nagendra Chauhan, 33, the police said.

Saurabh, Nagendra and Bhanu, 34, were friends for last five-six years. In June this year, Nagendra and Bhanu had died after "drowning" in Gang canal in Muradnagar where the three had gone together, the police said.

"It was initially reported that Nagendra and Bhanu have died of drowning and Suarabh had gone missing without any information, Circle Officer (CO), City 2nd, Rajeev Kumar Singh told reporters.

An FIR was registered at Sector-49 police station on a complaint by the victim's family, but they suspected a foul play in the case. Later, on the request of the family members it was transferred to Sector-24 police station.

Saurabh was on radar of the police team because of his disappearance from the crime scene under mysterious circumstances, the CO said.

He said media reports and a general perception was that several people had lost their lives in the Gang canal in Muradnagar in recent times.

"So, it initially emerged that Nagendra and Bhanu had drowned like some other people had in that canal. But Nagendra's autopsy report revealed injuries on head and private parts, raising suspicion over his death, he said.

The police team then re-analysed the entire episode and evidences, studied the route, interacted with the locals at the crime spot including the life guards at the canal.

"During probe he (Saurabh) did not reveal the truth at once. It was only after we posed tougher questions that he was left with no logical answers and got caught, Singh said, claiming that Saurabh has confessed to the crime.

Saurabh was part-time engaged as a washerman while Nagendra had an electronics shop. Saurabh was financially weak and owed around Rs 5 lakh to Nagendra, the police officer said.

"The money was not taken all at once, but it was accumulated over four-five years, Singh said