Bhopal: Thirteen days of painstaking investigation lie behind the release of two suspects' photographs by police in connection with the double murder case in Sudama Nagar, under the jurisdiction of Aishbagh police station in the Madhya Pradesh capital, Bhopal. A police team examined the case in three layers, scrutinising a thousand CCTV footage clips and combing through 500 faces before finally identifying the two suspects. Police are now focusing on contract killers from Haryana and Punjab, matching their faces against those of the suspects.
Meanwhile, the investigating team is also circulating photographs of the two suspects on social media in an effort to gather information from the public. Police have announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for this purpose. Officers say they have so far examined more than a thousand CCTV cameras and mobile call detail records (CDRs).
Contract killing suspected behind the murder
Investigators suspect the killing was carried out as a contract hit. This is based on footage showing the two suspects wearing raincoats and gloves, apparently in an attempt to conceal their identities. Both are believed to be aged between 30 and 38 years.
Suspects' route traced so far
Police enlisted the help of a private agency in Delhi to enhance the footage. The two men are seen walking together initially, before splitting onto separate paths, and later reuniting near the Subhash Nagar underbridge, after which they vanish from camera view.
Search intensifies for missing tenant
Police have obtained a clue during the investigation that a tenant living in the couple's house had suddenly gone missing four days before the incident. His belongings are still in the house, and police are searching for him.
The case so far
On 26th June, the bodies of Hemant Philemon, a 70-year-old retired railway employee, and his 70-year-old wife Shakuntala were recovered from their home. Neighbours alerted police after noticing a foul smell. Both were shot dead with two bullets each between 8pm and 8:30pm on the night of 24th June.
Investigation continues on all fronts
Police say teams are working continuously to make arrests. Officials have appealed to the public to come forward immediately with any information regarding the men seen in the footage.