Double murder accused tried to burn victims' bodies: Police

A day after a double murder rocked the city, the police claimed that the accused had tried to burn the bodies to get rid of evidence.

A day after double murders rocked the city, the police questioned Reema, stepmother of victim Reva, 8, here on Wednesday.

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During the prima facie investigation, the police have cleared that the alleged murderers have not used the hammer with one sharp side to slain the elderly man Narinder Kumar Anand, 62, and his granddaughter Reva.

Sarabha Nagar police station house officer (SHO) Manjinder Singh said the assailants have used some other sharp-edged weapon to execute murder that is yet to be recovered. According to the police, the murderers tried to burn the bodies with phenyl with an intention to dispose of the clues after executing the cold-blooded double murder. As phenyl is not inflammable, the police are perplexed about the intention of the murderers.

According to police officials doing the investigation, Reema could not provide the details of the two persons, who reportedly visited their home to meet Anand on Tuesday. She kept on saying that she had not seen those two persons. She told the police that Reva saw them and later told her.
On Tuesday, she had given a lead to the police saying that two persons had visited the home to meet her father-in-law. Reema belongs to Nakodar.

A divorcee, Reema had a son from her previous marriage, who had died. This was her second marriage with Hitesh Anand. Hitesh's first wife had died around six months ago. Inspector Manjinder Singh said the police asked neighbours if they have installed CCTV cameras on their premises as it would help the police solve the case.

"It is clear that it is not the case of robbery. Personal rivalry could be the reason behind the double murder case. The police have been investigating the matter thoroughly and would solve the case soon," said ADCP (special branch) Harmohan Singh.

The family performed the last rites of the victims on Wednesday. A pall of gloom has descended in the area.