Investigation – Agra Canal Deaths Raise Fresh Questions After Two Bodies Recovered
Investigation – Two people whose disappearance triggered a major search operation were found dead under suspicious circumstances, prompting investigators to examine whether they were killed before their bodies were dumped in the Agra Canal.
Police have intensified their investigation after recovering the bodies of a 23-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman from the Agra Canal on Sunday evening. The pair had been missing since Saturday, when authorities received information suggesting that a man and a woman had jumped into the canal. However, the discovery of their bodies with their hands tied using data cables and visible facial injuries has shifted the focus of the probe toward possible foul play.
Bodies Sent for Post-Mortem Examination
The deceased have been identified as Akash, also known as Akku, aged 23, and Rashmi, also known as Rajni, aged 27. Their bodies were recovered near Shahpur Kalan before being sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
According to senior police officials, investigators are examining whether the victims drowned after entering the canal or whether they had already been killed before being disposed of in the water. Authorities said the medical examination and forensic findings will be crucial in establishing the sequence of events.
Complaint Led to Initial Police Action
The case was first registered on Saturday by BPTP Police under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following a complaint filed by Shivam Kumar, a resident of Sector 31.
As stated in the complaint, Akash regularly visited a gym in Sector 31 and had allegedly been harassing Shivam’s wife, Rashmi. The complaint claimed that although Akash had apologised after an earlier confrontation, the alleged harassment had resumed over the previous ten days.
Search Began After Information About Canal Jump
Police said Rashmi left her residence in her car around 2 pm on Saturday, reportedly to meet Akash. Around 4.30 pm, officers received information that a man and a woman had jumped into the Agra Canal near the BPTP bridge.
When police reached the location, they found Rashmi’s vehicle abandoned near the canal. During the inspection of the car, investigators recovered two mobile phones along with a hammer that allegedly had blood stains. All recovered items were seized for forensic examination as part of the investigation.
Rescue Teams Conducted Extensive Search
Following the report, the State Disaster Response Force, along with other rescue agencies, launched a search operation in the canal on Saturday evening. The operation continued until Sunday, when both bodies were located and recovered.
The condition in which the victims were found has significantly expanded the scope of the investigation. Police said every piece of physical and electronic evidence is being carefully examined before drawing conclusions.
Family Alleges Murder, Police Await Evidence
Meanwhile, Akash’s brother-in-law, Ajay Nagar, has alleged that the deaths were the result of a planned murder. He claimed that Akash had been lured to the location under a conspiracy and was later killed along with Rashmi.
Police, however, have not confirmed any theory and said all possibilities remain under investigation. Officials are working to determine whether Rashmi suffered fatal injuries before entering the canal or whether drowning caused her death. Investigators are also analysing the recovered mobile phones, forensic material and other electronic evidence to reconstruct the timeline of events.
Senior officers said the post-mortem report, forensic analysis and technical evidence are expected to provide clarity on how the incident unfolded. Until then, authorities have stated that the investigation will continue on all possible angles.