Sector seventeen was a beehive of activity, a myriad of khaki-clad figures ran to and fro. Some low ranked policemen were discussing the scene, their faces painted with discomfort and uncertainty, as they stared at the open cave of a gutter. There were at least a dozen officials at the scene. A man dressed in black trousers and a white button-up shirt looked to be over forty guided them. His mature and professional demeanour instructing them, it was clear he was a specialist from the criminal investigative department, the officials followed his instructions with the utmost care.
He was detective Arora, the officer in charge. He observed the corpse just three feet ahead, the filthy gutter water flowed over the face of the corpse. They had no way to identify the body until it was removed from its current location as he now instructed the subordinates to enact.
Photos were being taken from all angles of the corpse. Arora removed his diary from his pocket and wrote down what he had regarded as clues. He dressed his hands in latex gloves prior to retrieving a knife found at the scene, he placed the knife in a transparent polythene bag, zipped the bag and handed it over to his assistant Rima Uppal who knew the destination of it – Forensic Lab, Dehli.
This was clearly a homicide, the artery of the victims’ throat had been cut, the blade could be the one in the hands of Uppal but forensics would need to confirm.
“What is the situation, Doctor?” sighed a clueless Arora.
Doctor cum medical examiner Prashant Bhatia had finished his task, he rose and tried in vain to remove the spots of gutter water on his trousers with his handkerchief with visible disgust.
“The body is all yours now, Mr Arora.” He said while still trying to remove the spots of filth.
“I know but any information for me?” Arora’s eyes pierced through his spectacles at the Doctor.
“The artery in the throat had been slit open. The blood in the mouth suggests an impact to the chest, prior to the incision on the throat, from my experience the victim was unable to breathe due to the severe chest impact, and the cut was carried out immediately afterwards.
“A professional?”
“I never like to guess, I can say the killer had either strong hands or used an implement if it was just a fist the killer would have been very strong.”
“What is the estimated time of death?” Arora noted every answer of the Doctor in his diary.
Bhatia again looked at the corpse.
“Time?” Arora insisted.
“I can’t say for certain, I suggest you wait for the post-mortem report, I estimate though it took place around midnight, the water wear has made it difficult to be certain.”
“Thank you, Doctor, Bhatia”
“Welcome,” Bhatia smiled.
They were always polite to one another, this job was routine for them.
Arora threw a last glance at the body to confirm the apparel worn.
Black shirt...check…ok.
Dark blue jeans…check…ok.
No tie…check…ok.
Black sports shoes…check…ok.
Costly wristwatch ‘Rado’…check…ok.
Arora bent over to inspect the corpse more precisely, re-inserting his diary into his pocket.
He searched the pockets of the victim, he found a cellphone, his attempt to power it on had failed probably due to water damage on the circuits. He placed it in the evidence bag and handed it to Rima.
From another pocket he found a piece of soggy paper, the writing was illegible as the water had caused the ink to run. He placed it between two pieces of tissue paper and placed it in the evidence bag, which was swiftly removed from his hands by Rima.
Arora’s face lit up, he had found a wallet in another pocket. He opened it again he found a piece of paper, this piece, however, he could read, the walls of leather had protected it from the water. The note was written in Punjabi which Arora understood. The note read – Last chance…To grab him for …Agent Malik…A foreigner.
He didn’t pay too much attention to it as he understood it could be a coded message and only the intended recipient would understand the contents. He repeated the process he had conducted with the other piece of paper he found and handed it to Rima.
He thought it could be a mafia connection of even one of a politician all he understood for certain was an agent was involved.
He checked the wallet and found AADHAR card of the victim.
“Faruk Qureshi” his eyes brightened reading the name as he had heard the name somewhere before.
“This name sounds somewhat familiar.” He turned to Rima.
“Yes sir, Faruk Qureshi, the police officer who boasted on the television that he was close to exposing the crimes of Victor.” Rima looked at the corpse with sympathy.
Arora was lost in thought for a moment. He thought to himself, it would be a long investigation.
***
To be continue...
