Uttarakhand murders: Delhi couple in wrong place at wrong time?

Local residents said tourists rarely took shared vehicles to go to the Tiger Falls. “These (shared) vehicles are usually used by the local people or meant for transporting goods. It is very surprising that the woman and her friend decided to take a shared taxi,” Lebru Das who works in the local forest rest house, said. He added that shared vehicles usually charged Rs 50 per person for Tiger Falls.

Meanwhile, residents of Tungrauli village, where all four accused come from, were shocked to find out that Raju Das (the taxi driver), Bablu Das, Guddu Das and Kundan Das, were allegedly involved in the murder of the two tourists.

“He (Raju) was in the village in the first half of Diwali. But he could not be spotted in the village in the second half,” Keshar Singh from Tungrauli said. The village is located very close to the falls.

According to the residents of the village, Bablu, Guddu and Kundan live in houses adjacent to one another. Raju, they said, lived a few yards away. Raju, Bablu and Guddu are married, while Kundan is single.

Village residents said Raju had moved out Vikash Nagar. “But, he visits often. Bablu is his close friend,” Keshar Singh said.

The families of Bablu, Guddu and Kundan too were shocked to find out about their alleged involvement in the case. “I can’t believe that my husband is involved in this crime,” Bablu’s wife Babli said. Guddu’s wife Julu Devi refused to comment.

Kundan’s mother Nandi Devi, however, claimed that her son was present in the village on October 23 and 24. “He was in the field on both days,” she claimed.

According to police, the last location of the couple was traced to Tiger Falls on October 23 on the basis of calls made from their cellphones.

According to records maintained by Uttarayan hotel, where the two had put up, they checked in at 11.35 am on October 23.

“They wanted to stay in our hotel for three to four days. But, all rooms were booked on October 23. So, I requested him to check out on October 23,” caretaker Sultan Singh Chauihan said.

According to Sultan, they had paid Rs 600 for their one-day stay. He also claimed that saw them in Chakrata area later that day.

Circle Officer of Vikash Nagar S K Singh said, “You won’t find tourists visiting Tiger Falls in the evening. We traced their location at Tiger Falls in the evening. Generally, tourists leave the spot by 4 pm.”