Haldwani – A young couple was brutally murdered in Haldwani’s Naveen Mandi area on Wednesday night, with their faces crushed using concrete blocks. Police arrested four accused by Thursday evening and said a minor dispute during a party led to the killings.
The blood-soaked bodies were found near warehouses in the grain market area around 6:45 am. Labourers alerted security personnel, who informed the police. Identity was established through Aadhaar cards recovered from the spot. A forensic team collected evidence while CCTV footage and mobile records were scanned throughout the day.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Manjunath TC said in a press briefing that Shubham Tamta (31), also known as Golu, originally from Lower Mall Road, Almora, was living in Haldwani. He was in a live-in relationship with Laxmi Pokharia (19), a resident of Pokhri Chaksedula village in Okhalkanda. On Wednesday night, they attended a party on the roof of a warehouse in the grain market along with four other associates.
Police said an argument broke out during the gathering, which escalated into a physical fight. The group later moved downstairs, where the accused allegedly attacked Shubham with concrete blocks, crushing his head. As Laxmi witnessed the assault, the accused allegedly killed her as well to eliminate a potential witness. They then fled with the victims’ mobile phones.
Concrete blocks stained with blood, three empty liquor bottles and cigarette remains were recovered from the scene. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, conducted by a panel of doctors under videography. The deceased families later submitted written complaints.
Police arrested Gaurav Negi alias Akku Thakur, Deepu Sharma alias Dhruv, Saurabh Bhatt alias Bhatiya and Dipesh Latwal alias Raj under charges of murder and other relevant sections. According to police records, Gaurav Negi has 11 prior cases registered against him, while Dipesh Latwal has three cases.
Investigators stated that Shubham had a history of substance abuse and had earlier spent time in a de-addiction centre. He later worked as a supervisor at a rehabilitation centre before leaving the job four months ago. Injection marks were reportedly found on his hand during examination.
Shubham was the youngest among six siblings. His father, the late Kishori Lal, had worked in the Almora post office, and his mother, the late Bhagirathi, had served as a village head. Laxmi was a BSc second-year student at MBPG College and worked part-time at a surgical store in Haldwani.
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Swift arrests after the crime reflect active investigation, but the incident has again drawn attention to unchecked late-night gatherings in commercial zones and repeated involvement of individuals with prior criminal records. The case highlights concerns about monitoring of habitual offenders and supervision of high-risk locations.
