(Contd. from Part I)

Dharma Chakra visited the site of the incident.

The divers took out the body from the tank. He conducted panchanama there itself and found no visible marks on the body.

There was some money in his shirt pocket. His mobile could not be traced. People standing nearby said, “His mobile might have fallen into the water. Dharam Chakra asked the divers to check the bottom of the tank. They said, “They were not experts in going to the bottom of the tank and searching. It requires special equipment and training. The bottom of the tank may contain silty sediment and debris. Hence, it will be difficult to trace the mobile. So the search for the mobile was abandoned.

Dharam Chakra thought that the police IT department would retrieve the mobile data if we knew the dead person’s mobile number. No one identified the body. Hence, he asked the photographer to photograph the body. The press reporters were informed of the unknown dead body found in the tank, and people related can contact the concerned police station.

The news appeared in the following day’s regional and a few English- and Hindi-language newspapers.

*

Hiren Kumar’s mothers were worried about him because he hadn’t returned home that night. His mobile could not be contacted. She was anxious and contacted relatives and friends on the phone.

 Everyone said, “They have no idea of him. He didn’t come to them.”

Hiren Kumar’s mother’s anxiety increased. She contacted her friend Laxmi Durga. Laxmi Durga asked her husband to contact the police. He went to the nearest police station and filed a missing person complaint, providing Hiren’s photo. The police passed the information to all police stations in the state. The police at the tank informed Dharam Chakra of the details. He checked the photo with the body. To confirm, he called Hiren’s mother. Swarajyam identified the body as that of her son, Hiren Kumar. She gave Hiren Kumar’s mobile number.

Dharma Chakra transferred the mobile number to their IT team to retrieve the call data. They found the last call was from Pranjal. The police called Pranjal’s mobile. He answered.

Dharam Chakra was surprised at the answer. As the murderer will escape and switch off their mobiles. Dharam Chakra sent constables to Pranjal’s house to get him to the police station.

 Pranjal came to the police station.

Dharam Chakra: Shown the CC camera footage to Pranjal.

Pranjal: The person in the camera footage is me. But yesterday, I was at home preparing for competitive exams.

Dharam Chakra:  You are bluffing. You are under arrest. He called the constables and asked them to take him into custody.

Pranjal: No, Sir. On that day. It was a holiday. I was at home. I didn’t go anywhere. I was preparing for competitive exams. You can find out from my parents.

Dharam Chakra went to Pranjal’s house with his staff. He called Pranjal’s parents.

Dharam Chakra to Pranjal’s Parents: Can you please tell me about your son, Pranjal and where he was on Thursday evening?

Pranjal’s Mother: It was a holiday. Their coaching centre was closed on that day. They were studying in their rooms. We all had lunch at the dining table, and I gave them evening tea at 4.00 pm in their rooms. We all had dinner at 9.00 pm.

Dharam Chakra: You are talking as “They” when I am speaking about Pranjal. Whom do you mean by “They”?

Pranjal’s mother: I am talking about my two sons, Pranjal and Ranjan.

Dharam Chakra:  Shows the CC camera footage.

Mother:  He is Pranjal. Police took him to the police station.

Dharam Chakra:  Can I see Ranjan?

Mother: He is not at home at present.

Dharam Chakra: Thank you, Madam. I may visit you again, if necessary

Then he went to Hiren Kumar’s House.

*

 Several relatives and friends were present, consoling Hiren Kumar’s mother, Swarajyam.

Dharam Chakra: I need to talk to Hiren Kumar’s mother.

Hiren Kumar’s mother came forward. She was in deep sorrow over the death of her only son. She sat on a sofa opposite Dharam Chakra.

Dharam Chakra: My sincere condolences on the loss of your son. As human beings, we have no control over certain happenings. Death is one of them. We can’t help.

I just wanted to find out when Hiren Kumar left the house, and for what purpose.

Hiren’s mother: He left around 4.00 pm on Thursday. He told me that he is going to meet a friend. I have no idea who the friend was.

Dharam Chakra: Can I have his mobile? We didn’t find his mobile with his body. Is it at home?

Hiren’s mother searched his room and said, “It is not available here.”

If I find it, I will inform you.

Dharam Chakra: Do you suspect anyone?

Hiren’s mother; No. We have no enmity with anyone.

Dharam Chkra:  Can you tell me who his friends are, male or female?

Hiren’s mother: As far as my knowledge goes, he doesn’t have a girlfriend. But we were thinking of his marriage to my friend Laxmi Durga’s daughter, Nirali. They live in this city only.

Dharam Chakra: Hiren’s body is sent for postmortem examination. We will hand you over the body after the formalities.

Saying these words, Dharam Chakra left the place.
*

Dharam Chakra posted police constables in mufti at Nirali’s house.

Nirali’s mother stayed at Hiren’s house. She took responsibility for cooking and other tasks during Swarajyam’s sorrow. 

Nirali had to look after cooking at home for her father and herself. She was surprised that Pranjal killed Hiren Kumar.

She called Ranjan and said, “Don’t try to meet me till the eleventh day of HirenKumar’s function.

Ranjan didn’t meet Nirali for a week.

*

Dharam Chakra had no information, and there was no progress regarding the culprit.

Then came Hiren Kumar’s call list. He found a mobile call from Pranjal. Dharam Chakra became furious at being diverted. He showed a call to Hiren Kumar at 4.00 pm on the day of Hiren’s death from Pranjal’s mobile.

Pranjal said, “He did not make any call.”

Dharam Chakra: “You are bluffing. Everything will be clear in the court.”

 He asked his constables to handcuff Pranjal and take him into custody.

Pranjal’s mother was weeping. She called Ranjan, but he did not respond.

Dharam Chakra posted a group of policemen in mufti at Pranjal’s house.

Ranjan was happy that Pranjal had been arrested. A week after Hiren Kumar’s death, Ranjan could not control himself from meeting Nirali. He went to her apartment complex and was waiting outside.

The mufti police identified him as Pranjal and informed Dharam Chakra.

 Dharam Chakra contacted the police station, and the Sub-inspector said, “Sir, He is in the cell only.

Then, Dharam Chakra asked the mufti police men to arrest Ranjan and bring him to the police station.

*

At the police station, they were all surprised at the resemblance between Pranjal and Ranjan.

Dharam Chakra: Asked police constables to bring Pranjal before him.

He asked both of them to stand side by side.

He was surprised as they were similar in colour, height and weight.

Their parents were also called to the police station and asked to identify them by name.

*

Their mother said,

“Pranjal and Ranjan were born as similar-looking twins. I had difficulty identifying them. They are similar in their physical structure, height, weight, colour, and facial features.

Pranjal is an introvert; he talks less and thinks more before answering anyone. He is a bit reserved and does not make friends easily. He is a voracious reader. He reads stories and novels in his mother tongue and in English. He passed his UG with distinction.

Ranjan is opposite to Pranjal in nature and attitude. He reacts to every issue. He does not care who is on the other side and speaks his own mind. He keeps a good Number of friends. Takes them to restaurants and pubs to enjoy. He enjoys life. He passed his UG degree with a pass class.”

Their mother further added, “Because of this confusion, I made them wear differently. Pranjal with a tailor-stitched long-sleeve shirt and pants, and Ranjan with a factory-made T-shirt and jeans. This way, I can easily identify them.”

Dharam Chakra: shows the CC camera footage at the tank bund. The person was wearing a long-sleeve shirt and pants.

She said he is Pranjal.

Dharam Chakra: But you said, “Pranjal was at home, and you served him lunch and tea.”

Mother: Yes, Sir, I served both of them lunch and tea.

*

Dharam Chakra: Don’t worry, we will find out. As he knew Ranjan was around Nirali’s house.

He asked the Sub-inspector to take care of Ranjan. He took Ranjan inside the police station’s special room.

They took Ranjan’s statement.

 After Hiren Kumar pressured Nirali’s parents about the marriage, Nirali was disturbed. Nirali and I discussed it, and we both came up with this plan, which I implemented.

I took Pranjal’s shirt and pants from the cupboard after tea, dressed, and called Hiren Kumar from Pranjal’s mobile while Pranjal was deep in study. Hiren Kumar took me as Pranjal and talked to me. I was happy, and I took him to the railing and threw him into the water. As he did not know how to swim, he drowned and died.

Dharam Chakra: Produced Ranjan as the murderer before the court, and he was punished. Nirali was also punished as per the law for planning the murder. Ranjan’s and Nirali’s parents were astonished to know that they were the main culprits.

Hiren Kumar’s mother thanked Dharam Chakra.

Murali Krishna said to his wife Laxmi Durga, “In this 21st century, youth have their own ideas about marriage. We should not impose our ideas on them. Let them make their own decisions. It is their life.”

****The End****