Ex-soldier arrested in Haldwani double murder case

Two men, including an ex-soldier, have been arrested in connection with a double murder case in Haldwani in which the wife and mother of a retired army officer were killed at their residence on February 22.
Mahendra Goswami, who was a batman (a soldier assigned to a military officer as an assistant) of Colonel D L Sah, and a carpenter Akhtar Ali who worked at his house, were arrested in connection with the case on Sunday, SSP Janmejay Khanduri said today.
However, another accused named Mallu is still absconding, he said.
A sketch has been released to speed up arrest of Mallu, the SSP said.

The trio barged into the house of the officer on the night of February 22 apparently with the intention of theft when he was out of station but killed the two women when they resisted.
They also made away with jewellery worth lakhs of rupees and Rs 25,000 in cash from the house.

The cash and some of the jewellery have been recovered from the arrested duo.
However, the gold ornaments are believed to be in possession of the absconding accused Mallu.
Prerna Sah (55), wife of Sah and his mother Shanti Sah (75) were found dead in rooms of his residence in Dehariya area of Haldwani.

Their bodies bore injury marks which suggested they had been assaulted with sharp-edged weapons and heavy objects.
The officer's son and daughter-in-law are also in the armed forces.