Doomdooma: A dispute over an unpaid loan of around Rs 3 lakh is being examined as a possible motive in the murder of 62-year-old businessman Pawan Jain alias Punia from Dhakuakhana in Assam’s Lakhimpur district.
Police took the accused to the crime scene for reconstruction on Saturday, according to information from the ongoing investigation.
Jain had reportedly lent the money to prime accused Dhananjay Sahu and had allegedly been asking him to repay the loan. Investigators are examining whether the dispute over repayment led to the killing.
The case came to light after Jain went missing on Tuesday afternoon. He had left his shop at around 1 pm for lunch and was seen on CCTV riding his bicycle towards home. When he did not return and his mobile phone was switched off, his family approached Dhakuakhana police.
During the investigation, police went to Sahu’s residence, which is around 150 metres from Jain’s home. Jain’s body was recovered from a bathroom at the residence and was wrapped in a plastic bag.
Police arrested Sahu, his wife Sita, their minor son and e-rickshaw driver Raju Sahani.
Investigators are also examining whether Sahani became involved in the alleged conspiracy after the loan dispute escalated.
Police carried out the crime-scene reconstruction to understand what happened and determine the involvement of those arrested. They will also compare their statements with physical and forensic evidence.
The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged murder remain under investigation.