NEW DELHI: Father of one of the victims in the 2006 Nithari case questioned the death of Surendra Koli in Haridwar on Friday, alleging he was murdered and did not die by suicide.“Surendra Koli has been murdered; he has not died by suicide”, said Jhabbu Lal (64), whose then 15-year-old daughter was among the victims.Koli was found hanging at a rented tea stall on Friday on Sapt Sarovar Road in Haridwar. Police said the scene was examined by a forensic team, with the body’s panchanama and post-mortem proceedings under way.Police said the death appeared to be a case of suicide, a claim questioned by Lal.“If he had died by suicide in jail, it could be understood that he was depressed. But he took his life after being released and spending several months outside? This raises questions,” he said, alleging that Koli could have been killed if he was about to disclose some important case-linked information.He also claimed that Koli was not the main culprit in the Nithari case and accused businessman Moninder Singh Pandher of being one.Koli reportedly worked as a domestic help at Pandher’s Noida Sector 31 house.“His owner Moninder Pandher was the main accused in the case. He should be hanged,” Lal said.
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Lal and his wife Sunita, 61, have spent nearly 20 years seeking justice for their daughter.According to PTI, the couple hail from Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district and had moved to Nithari about four decades ago in search of work. Lal made a living by ironing clothes for local residents.“If the government helps us, only then will we be able to continue our fight in future. We can’t fight on our own,” Lal said.The Nithari case came to light in 2006 after skeletal remains, skulls and bones were found in the backyard and drains near Pandher’s D-5 bungalow in Sector 31, Noida.The discovery brought to light the disappearance and killings of several children and young women, sparking nationwide outrage. The findings also left local residents fearful about allowing their children to go out alone.