Shimla: In a swift crackdown on serious crime, Shimla Police resolved a blind murder case, arrested two Nepali nationals from Kullu district, apprehended a woman involved in a Rs 25 lakh Canada visa fraud, and intensified anti-drug operations across the district.
Murder Case: On February 18, a call to the 112 helpline reported a severely injured body near Badiyara bridge along the Pabbar river under Chirgaon police station. The deceased was identified as Rakesh Pratap alias Seti Ram Kami (36), a Nepali labourer working in a local orchard.
Forensic experts from SFSL Junga and a dog squad were deployed. Evidence collected included a stone and dagger suspected to be murder weapons. CCTV footage and local inquiries indicated the victim was last seen with two Nepali men.
Investigations revealed the accused had consumed alcohol with the victim before a minor altercation near Kilochha Nala escalated into a fatal attack with sharp weapons and stones. The perpetrators mutilated the victim’s face and stole his mobile phone before fleeing.
A special police team traced the suspects to Kasol and Manikaran in Kullu district. They were identified using migrant labour registration records as Lalit Rana alias Laxman Rana (20) and Sahabir Luwar (21), residents of Jajarkot district, Nepal. The duo was arrested in a late-night raid on February 22–23, and the victim’s mobile phone was recovered. Investigations are ongoing.
Canada Visa Fraud: In a separate case, Shimla Police arrested Manju Kumari, a woman from Kharar, Punjab, accused of cheating a complainant of Rs 25 lakh under the pretext of arranging a Canada visa. Registered at Baluganj police station under Sections 318(4), 61(2), 352(2) BNS, the case stems from previous IPC sections 420, 120-B, and 506.
Manju had evaded arrest by frequently changing SIM cards and using internet-based calls. After technical surveillance and coordinated raids in Punjab and Haryana, she was apprehended on February 22 from a flat in Shivalik City, Kharar. Investigation into the fraud case continues.
Anti-Drug Operations: Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh stated that Shimla Police have intensified their anti-drug campaign, registering 21 NDPS cases in the last 28 days and detaining 21 habitual drug peddlers under preventive provisions of PIT NDPS. All accused were sent to jail for three months to disrupt supply chains.
Police are targeting major suppliers, including those with interstate and Indo-Nepal connections, and are conducting financial investigations to trace illegally acquired assets tied to the narcotics trade.
SP Singh emphasized public cooperation, urging citizens to ensure proper registration and verification of tenants and migrant labourers at nearby police stations, highlighting that accurate records are crucial in solving and preventing serious crimes.
