Bank manager’s mysterious death shocks Amarpura, murder ruled out

Ludhiana: A 50-year-old bank manager was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a rented accommodation in Amarpura area on Friday. Though police officials, based on the autopsy report, described the incident as a simple case of hanging, the condition in which the body was found raised suspicion.
The deceased, identified as Vinod Masih, was wearing a lingerie and his hands and feet were tied up with a nylon rope, which was tied around his neck. The body was hanging from the door, officials said.
Hailing from Ferozepur district, Vinod had been living in the rented house in Amarpura for the past one-and-a-half years, while his family stayed in Ferozepur. Vinod worked as a manager at Canara Bank’s Cheema chowk branch.
Vinod’s landlord Rajinder Kumar said the bank manager used to go to office around 9am every day. On Friday morning, he realized that the door leading to the room was closed. So he knocked on the door and called Vinod’s name. As he did not get any response despite repeated attempts, he smelled something fishy.
“I called some of the neighbours and area councillor Gurdeep Singh Neetu. Thereafter, the door was broken. When we went inside, Vinod was found hanging with a rope around his neck from the door of the bedroom. Police later shifted the body to the civil hospital,” Rajinder said.
The incident caused some panic in the area as people couldn’t believe that a person could tie up his own hands and feet and then hang himself from the door with his knees still touching the floor.
The police informed the family of Vinod in Ferozepur, who also reached the spot.
A team of forensic experts also reached the spot for investigation. An official from the forensic team said nothing suspicious was found from the spot.
Rajesh Sharma, assistant commissioner of police (central), said, “As the door of the room was bolted from inside, it cannot be said that Vinod was murdered and then hanged from the door. Though it is certainly strange that his hands and feet were tied up. CCTV cameras installed at the house captured Vinod going upstairs on Thursday night. Nobody else was captured going upstairs afterwards.”
The police have proceeded with Section 174 of CrPC in the case.