Sonipat, November 10Sonipat: A 35-year-old truck driver was allegedly beaten to death with sticks following a drinking session with two village youths in Tajpur village of Sonipat district. The body of Mukesh alias Bhalu was found on a road behind a liquor vend on Tuesday morning. Police have registered a murder case against Pawan and Nikku alias Mahavir on the complaint of the victim’s brother, Pinku.In a striking detail, hours before his death, Mukesh had posted an Instagram story showing him sitting in a car, with liquor bottles and cigarettes visible. The Punjabi song ‘Ajj Din Khushiyan Da Sajna’ was playing in the background.According to preliminary information, Mukesh was drinking with Pawan and Nikku behind a liquor vend on a village road on Monday night. Both accused are reportedly daily-wage labourers. A disagreement allegedly broke out between them, following which the two youths attacked Mukesh with sticks, repeatedly striking him on the head.The assault allegedly proved fatal. Villagers spotted Mukesh’s body on Tuesday morning and informed his family, who subsequently alerted the police.Around 7am, a team led by Murthal SHO Rajiv Kumar reached the spot and initiated an investigation. A forensic science laboratory (FSL) team also collected evidence from the crime scene.Mukesh had been working as a truck driver for an operator in Ludhiana for the past three years. According to his employer, he had returned to his native village three days earlier after taking leave for Diwali.Villagers described him as a well-behaved person who had no known disputes with anyone in the village.Mukesh’s wife, Manju, said he had left home on Monday evening after asking her to perform the Diwali puja and telling her that he would return shortly. He had also said that he would perform the puja after coming back.The family was living in a rented house nearby while their own house was under construction. Mukesh was the family’s primary breadwinner. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.Murthal SHO Rajiv Kumar said police had registered a murder case on the statement of Mukesh’s brother, Pinku. After the postmortem examination, the body was handed over to the family, which subsequently performed the last rites.“The investigation is underway, and we will arrest the accused soon,” the SHO said.Police said further investigation was in progress to establish the sequence of events leading to the murder.
