Man found murdered in room closed from inside

NAGPUR: "Beta, tu ja! Apni life kharab maat kar (Daughter, you go. Don't waste your life) was Vijay Surekha's last words to his 12-year-old daughter Twinkle on Friday night at his rented Gokulpeth shop. Seventh standard student Twinkle's world seemed to have suddenly crumbled with father being murdered and little chances of mother to recover.
Vijay, a scrap dealer in his forties, was found murdered with serious stab injuries on his head, stomach and chest.His body was found in sitting position early Saturday morning in the room that was locked from inside.
"Jaisa papa puja mein baithe the," (As if the father was seated before the altar)," said Twinkle, describing what she saw peeping through the half-closed window. The door was later broken from outside to gain access. This was something that brought before police a dilemma. The injuries on Vijay indicated murder but the circumstantial evidence hinted at suicide. Police were also initially left surprised as there was no weapon inside the room. They felt that it could be a case of contract killing and are probing this angle.
Talking to TOI, a neighbour gave a clue, stating that Vijay wanted to live for his daughters despite ill-health. "The man was unlikely to have suddenly ended life," the neighbour said.
Twinkle said that she had last spoken to her father at 10.30pm. "He had food from his tiffin. I saw him munching on the sandwich too before heading to upstairs," said Twinkle. "I got a call from the landlord in the morning that my father was not answering his calls. He did not open his shop across the road. My call too went unanswered. Then I went to his room only to see him dead," she said.
Twinkle stayed in the rented room on the first floor. Her father, who was suffering from terminal infection, slept in the small rented room behind the photocopy centre of his landlord Gopal Sharma. Vijay's wife Meena stayed with her family in the adjacent house. The couple had a bitter relationship.
Twinkle stayed with his father while her elder sister Sheetal lived with mother. The family had split around a year ago. Vijay was in the habit of drinking. Vijay used to harass Meena which soured relationship with his brother-in-law Gopal and Shrikant Aggrawal.
Sources in Ambazari police station said that Vijay's dispute with his in-laws, especially wife and brother-in-law, was not new. "Vijay had come bleeding once or twice at the police station. His wife too had come with complaint against him," the source said.
It was learnt that Vijay would pelt stones at his in-law's place under the influence of alcohol. Police said that Vijay would get frustrated over separation from his wife and therefore used to pelt stones.
Rashmi, younger sister of Meena, said that the couple was married through an arranged meeting of the marriageable youths some years ago. Vijay was working, but left the job. Later, he would not do anything substantial. The couple lived in Akola but later shifted to Nagpur. As he was unable to pay the rent, his mother-in-law Devkibai would pay. Later, Meena's family asked her to stay with them. Her elder daughter started staying with Rashmi. "Our family members were awake till 3am," said Rashmi.
Following the post-mortem and indications from the forensic experts, police rounded up Vijay's brother-in-law Gopal for questioning. Police have registered a case of murder. "Vijay might have been assaulted with a sharp object after which he returned home without alerting others or getting himself treated. Someone might have barged inside his room and stabbed him," said a senior officer. "We intend to call Shrikant for questioning. It may be that someone was sent to kill Vijay who was a trouble for the family," he said.