DEHRADUN: A married couple -- Rajendra Singh Dogra (35), a labourer, and his wife Sapna (27) -- living in a rented accommodation in Dehradun's Vidya Vihar area was killed by their acquaintance in the early hours of Saturday. The accused, 47-year-old Hardwari Lal, has been arrested by Patel Nagar police.
The accused, according to police, has confessed to his crime. He told the cops that the couple had taken a loan of Rs 40,000 from him and were not returning the amount.
The incident took place around 2.30 am on Saturday. After a heated argument with the couple, Hardwari hit them with an iron pan. His repeated blows on their head and facial region left them dead on the spot, according to police.
The crime was reported to police by area residents, who heard cries for help from the small flat in which the three stayed. When some neighbours knocked on the door of the flat, Hardwari told them that someone killed Dogra and Sapna. However, the local saw through Hardwari's lie and locked him in a room, and informed police. By the time police arrived on the scene, the accused had managed to escape from the back door. Nonetheless, the police team chased Hardwari and caught him from a nearby location.
During interrogation, the accused told police that he had an illicit relationship with Sapna and Dogra was aware of it. He added that on Friday night, an argument broke out between him and the couple when some of their friends had come to the flat for drinks. After the verbal tussle intensified, their friends left the house. Subsequently, he rushed to the kitchen and attacked the couple with an iron pan (tawa).
Speaking on the murder, SSP Dehradun Janmaijai Khanduri said, “Prima facie, it appears that differences between Dogra and Hardwari led to the murder. We are probing the matter further.”
