MAN’S BODY FOUND IN CANAL WITH STAB WOUNDS

PRAYAGRAJ: The body of a 48-year-old man with lacerations and stab injuries was found in Adlabad canal, near Kothriya village, under Nawabganj police station of Pratapgarh district, on Saturday morning. The family informed the police that the victim had left home on an errand, riding his bicycle, on Friday afternoon but had failed to return home, police said.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination and an investigation has begun, they added.SHO Prabhat Kumar Yadav said that according to information, the victim, Ram Bahal, 48, was a resident of village Gamlen-ka-Purwa Badhsiv, under the Sangamgarh police station. He used to work in Delhi as a cook and kitchen helper but came back in lockdown. Three months back he had gone to Delhi in search of a job but had come back just after 10 days disappointed. He had been staying at home since then, he added.

The SHO said that Ram Bahal’s body was found around 15km from his house. Late, the previous evening, family members launched a search for him but in vain. On Saturday morning, some locals spotted a body in the Adlabad canal and informed the police. Initially, the body remained unidentified for quite some time but was later identified as that of Ram Bahal by his family. The body bore cuts and stab wounds, he said.

Based on the complaint submitted against unidentified assailants by the father of the victim, a case of murder has been registered and investigation is now underway, he added.

As the news of the murder spread, a number of police officers including Brij Mohan, circle officer, Lalganj and DP Singh, SHO, Kotwali police station, also reached the spot. Locals informed the police that Ram Bhawal was a heavy drinker and this often caused friction in the family. Brij Mohan said initial investigation hints at old enmity as a possible cause of the crime. However the post-mortem examination report is awaited and that they planned to move forward based on its findings, he added.