New Delhi   

Killers were on a `high'

By Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI, JUNE 22. Bharat Bhandari and his accomplice were apparently under the influence of "sulfa" -- a crude form of hashish, -- when they allegedly broke into the Vasant Enclave residence of the Lieutenant General Harnam Singh Seth, murdered him and his wife and fled with the cash and his medals in the wee hours of Sunday.

Enquiries in the adjoining Vasant Gaon, where Bharat lived with his family, revealed that he and his accomplice frequented the house of one Pujari Baba living in their neighbourhood. Since Pujari Baba is said to be addicted to "sulfa", which he smokes using "chillam", they too would get their doses from him almost every night.

Just hours before the incident is believed to have taken place, Bharat and his accomplice were spotted at Pujari Baba's residence smoking "sulfa". Without disclosing their plans to him, the duo spent some time with him and then left for the Lieutenant General's house in the wee hours. They first tried to break into the house through the rear balcony on the first floor, failing which they climbed on to the roof-top with the help of a ladder kept there and then climbed down to the second floor balcony to break open the door and gain entry.

When questioned, Pujari Baba revealed that the pair of slippers recovered by the police from the spot was his and that Bharat had apparently worn them by mistake while leaving on Saturday night.

Apart from the fingerprints lifted from the spot and the recovery of medals and cash from Bharat's possession, the police have gathered other circumstantial evidence to establish that Bharat and his accomplice were behind the murder of the Lieutenant General and his wife. "We have collected nearly all the facts pertaining to the case and are now waiting for Bharat's interrogation for their corroboration," said the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West Delhi), Shalini Singh.

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