2 booked for murder, at large

Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, August 16

Five days after the city police recovered the body of a 15-year-old girl near Singla Resort, Zirakpur, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances, the police have booked two unidentified persons under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code here on Thursday.

Earlier, the police have initiated an inquest proceeding. The police, meanwhile, started an investigation into the case and questioned a few persons. But going with the statement of Fazaldeen, a security guard at Singla Resort, the police on Thursday added the section meant for murder.

Gurmail Singh, IO, said the complainant who works as a security guard at the resort, told the police that he saw two men getting off an auto-rickshaw carrying something on August 10 night. As it was dark and when he took out his torch to see, the two men in a hurry threw something and fled back in auto-rickshaw.

The complainant also stated that when he went there to have a look, he was shocked to see the body of a girl with a cloth tied around her neck. He then immediately informed the police control room. The police rushed to the spot and took the body into its possession.

The deceased has been identified as Manju, who actually belongs to UP, but currently was staying in a rented accommodation at Dasmesh Nagar, Zirakpur, along with her family members.

The IO said during the preliminary investigations it has come to the fore that the deceased Manju went to meet one of her old friends on August 9 afternoon, and since then she did not return home. Her body was found lying near Singla Resort, Zirakpur on August 10 night.

The police could not found anything from the clothes of the deceased, which could reveal her identification following which the body was kept in a mortuary at Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, for the next 72 hours. The police came to know about her identification on Wednesday and informed the deceased parents, said sources.

The case

The deceased Manju had gone to meet one of her old friends on August 9 afternoon, had not return home since. Her body was found lying near Singla Resort, near Chhat village, Zirakpur, on August 10 night

No arrests yet in other cases

• Nearly a month after a 28-year-old woman was allegedly beaten to death by her husband, the Zirakpur police have failed to arrest the prime accused in the case. 
• In another case, family members of Mamandeep Kaur, a resident of Mona Greens, Zirakpur, have been running from pillar to post, seeking punishment for her husband Gurpreet Singh, who  allegedly tortured and assaulted her to death.