Police have cracked the killing of Manisha Mittal, the woman who ran a private school in the Housing Board Colony of Sanjauli in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Within just 40 hours of the crime, two accused were put behind bars. Both were arrested in Haryana, and the weapons used in the murder were recovered from them.
Who Are the Two Arrested Men
The two people taken into custody have been identified as 22-year-old Ashish Ahlawat and 25-year-old Deepak. Ashish Ahlawat is from Jhajjar, while Deepak belongs to Rohtak. According to the records, Ashish Ahlawat, son of Surendra Singh, is a resident of village Dujana in district Jhajjar, Haryana, and is 22 years old. Deepak is also a son of Surendra Singh and lives in Sunaria Khurd, in tehsil and district Rohtak, and is 25 years old.
Reached Shimla in a Swift With a Fake Number Plate
The investigation revealed that both accused had travelled from Haryana to Shimla in a white Swift car. While the vehicle carried a Haryana number, a fake Himachal Pradesh registration had been fixed on it to avoid being traced. The car bore a (HP-10) number of Rohru in Himachal so that it would not raise any suspicion.
Both Already Face Several Cases
ASP Shimla Abhishek Dhiman said both accused already have several cases registered against them. Ashish Ahlawat is already facing a case under Section 308 BNS at Police Station Urban Estate Rohtak. Deepak's criminal record is even longer, as he already has 4 cases against him, including two under the Arms Act, one of assault and one under 308 BNS.
Why the Police Had to Carry Weapons
Usually, when Himachal police arrest a criminal, no weapons are visible in the arrest photographs. This time, however, the situation was different. Since both accused were professional shooters and the raid had to be carried out in a state like Haryana, the police had to act fully armed. In Haryana, taking on criminals carries a constant threat to life, which is why the team set off carrying weapons as a precaution.
What the Postmortem Revealed About the Bullets
The postmortem report laid bare the brutality of the killing. Manisha Mittal was shot with a total of 3 bullets. Of these, 2 bullets passed clean through the body, while 1 bullet lodged in her head.
Case Cracked in 39 Hours
In its press release, Shimla police said this sensitive murder case was solved within just 39 hours and both professional shooters were arrested. To get to the bottom of the case, several special teams were formed and dispatched to different parts of Himachal Pradesh as well as to likely locations in other states, including Haryana. During the probe, statements of eyewitnesses and other witnesses were recorded. Electronic data and CCTV footage were analysed in depth, and digital evidence was also examined.
Family Questioned, Daughter Given Security
The family of Manisha Mittal is also within the scope of the inquiry. Police are questioning her brother and husband. Meanwhile, following the murder, Manisha Mittal's daughter has been provided security as per protocol.
What Happens Next
After completing the necessary paperwork, police will bring both accused from Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and produce them before the District Court Shimla on Tuesday. The probe into the possible involvement of other people is also continuing, with police examining every aspect closely.
