PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani
With the frequency of murders appearing to rise at an alarming rate in the State, the double-murder of a young woman and a man was discovered in Haldwani on Thursday morning. The heads of the duo were crushed with stones.
Traders discovered two bodies in the Galla Mandi area on Bareilly Road here on Thursday morning and informed the police. According to officials, identity cards were found at the crime scene during preliminary investigation by the police. The bodies have been identified as those of Talli Pokhri-Nainital native Lakshmi (19) and Talla Kholta- Almora native Shubham Kumar Tamta (31). Senior police officials including the superintendent of police (City) Manoj Katyal and others reached the site while the forensics team also collected evidence from the crime scene. The police are checking footage from CCTV cameras installed in and around the Mandi in addition to questioning traders and labourers. Katyal said that all aspects including a possible love affair, probable love-triangle and ‘honour killing’, among others are being investigated to ascertain the facts behind the crime. An electronic cigarette and some other questionable objects were found near the man’s body, which were taken by the police for investigation.
According to sources, Tamta’s parents expired in the past and he is one among six siblings. Lakshmi is one of eight siblings and her father is reported to be a priest. She was a BSc second year student and was working at a rehab centre since August 2025. Her brother Suresh said that she was living near her office since gaining employment. The family learnt about the incident after receiving a call from the police in the morning.
Meanwhile, the police have formed teams to probe the double-murder and apprehend the culprits.
