Two days after the murder of a school director in Shimla, police are continuing their investigation, with the unidentified gunmen responsible for the killing yet to be traced.
The victim, Manisha Mittal (41), a resident of Rewari in Haryana, was shot dead by masked assailants near the entrance of a school on Saturday evening. The incident sent shockwaves through the area and raised questions about the possible motive behind the crime.
Following the murder, a video recorded by Mittal a few days earlier surfaced on social media. In the video, she made serious allegations against her brother over a long-running property dispute, leading investigators to examine whether the conflict may have any connection to the killing.
In the video, Mittal claimed she had been locked in a prolonged legal and family dispute with her brother over the ownership and management of a school property. She alleged that he had repeatedly threatened her and warned her of dire consequences.
Voicing concerns about her safety, Mittal said her life was under threat and sought protection from authorities. She had also addressed a press conference in April, where she made similar allegations. She further claimed that her husband, a Deputy Chief Medical Officer in Haryana, was supporting her brother in the dispute and had allegedly assaulted her.
Mittal maintained that the school originally belonged to her father and that after his death, her brother prevented her from exercising her rights over the property. She also accused him of acting against the interests of their parents in connection with the dispute.
For several months, Mittal had reportedly been living on the school premises along with her teenage daughter. She had also submitted multiple complaints to police, alleging threats to her life.
In the video, she alleged that despite repeatedly approaching authorities, no effective action had been taken. She also claimed that her mobile phone had been hacked and that her daughter was facing harassment online.
Meanwhile, Shimla Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said the investigation is progressing and special teams have been formed to identify and apprehend those involved in the crime.
“The crime scene has been secured. Police teams have collected evidence and are questioning witnesses. CCTV footage from nearby areas is also being analysed to trace the movement and identity of the attackers,” he said.
The SSP said forensic experts have been roped in to assist the investigation and expressed confidence that those responsible would be arrested soon. Police have not confirmed any motive behind the murder so far and said all possible angles are being thoroughly examined as part of the ongoing probe.
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