Haridwar police have arrested a husband and wife in the investigation into the killing of Gopal Kumar, a 50-year-old man from Bijnor. His body was found near the forest close to Dudhiya Band Basti in the Kotwali Nagar area on 17 September.
Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar announced the arrests at a press conference on Monday. The police and Crime Investigation Unit teams traced the suspects during the investigation and detained them at Motichur railway station.
Police said the arrested man is from Dargo Bharera in Bijnor. His wife was also taken into custody. Both were sent to jail after questioning, while teams continued searching for other suspects who remain at large.
What police said about the alleged motive
According to the police account, Gopal allegedly pressured the woman to leave her husband and children and go with him. Police further alleged that he threatened to circulate an obscene video and kill her when she refused.
The woman then told her husband about the matter, police said. Investigators alleged that the husband and wife subsequently planned the killing. The police briefing also referred to the involvement of the woman’s brother and another man from the same village.
The details released by police described the participation of family members and another local person during the inquiry. The allegations remain part of the police investigation and are not a court finding.
Identification of the victim
The investigation began after an unidentified male body was discovered in the forest near Dudhiya Band Basti on the morning of 17 September. A bus ticket for travel to Bijnor was found near the body, but no identity document was recovered.
Police circulated the dead man’s graph and information to nearby police stations and bordering districts. Relatives who reached Haridwar on 20 September identified the deceased as Gopal Kumar of Nai Basti, near the Excise Out, in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.
Gopal’s son, Ashu Kumar, then filed the murder report. Police and Crime Investigation Unit teams were formed to establish the circumstances of the death and identify those involved.
Investigation and arrests
Investigators examined CCTV footage and used other leads to track the suspects. Their inquiry led police to Motichur railway station, where the couple was arrested on Monday.
Police said both suspects confessed during questioning. The investigation is continuing to locate the other accused persons and establish each individual’s alleged role in the killing.
SP Crime Nisha Yadav, City Circle Officer Shishupal Singh Negi and Sadar Circle Officer Surendra Prasad Baluni attended the press conference. The case remains at the investigation stage, and the arrests do not establish guilt unless proven in court.
Conclusion
Police have arrested a Bijnor-based husband and wife in the Haridwar murder case, while searches continue for other alleged participants. The investigation is focused on the circumstances surrounding Gopal Kumar’s death and the roles of all suspects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who was killed in the Haridwar case?
Gopal Kumar, aged 50, from Nai Basti near the Excise Outin Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, was killed.
Q. Where was the body found?
The body was found in a forest near Dudhiya Band Basti in Haridwar’s Kotwali Nagar area.
Q. When was the body discovered?
Police found the unidentified body on the morning of 17 September.
Q. When was Gopal Kumar identified?
His relatives identified him in Haridwar on 20 September.
Q. Who has been arrested?
Police arrested a man from Dargo Bharera in Bijnor and his wife at Motichur railway station.
Q. What motive have police alleged?
Police alleged that the case followed pressure connected with a relationship, threats and the woman’s refusal to leave her husband and children.
Q. Are other suspects being sought?
Yes. Police teams are searching for other accused persons described as absconding.
