Two arrested for strangling public toilet staff over refusal of free access in UP

Police in Ghaziabad have arrested two men for allegedly killing a public toilet staff member after he refused to grant them free access to the facility, officials said on Friday.

An FIR was lodged on February 3 following a complaint by supervisor Kuldeep Singh , who reported that his helper, Prem Kumar , a native of Gonda district, had been murdered by unknown individuals, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Shweta Yadav said at a press conference.

Prem Kumar, in charge of the public toilet complex at Kaushambi bus stand, constructed by the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN), had reportedly confronted the accused over unpaid service fees of Rs 300. The accused, Sukhbir alias Sumit (28) and Rakesh Prasad alias Chotu , residents of Bardhaman district, West Bengal , were familiar with Prem Kumar and had been consuming alcohol with him previously.

Police said tensions escalated about ten days ago when the duo attempted to use the facility without clearing their dues. Though a scuffle broke out, the situation was initially defused with Kuldeep Singh intervening.

On February 2 , the accused allegedly plotted the murder. They reportedly consumed alcohol with Prem Kumar inside the toilet premises and later strangled him to death after tying his hands and legs. The accused then took Rs 600 and Prem Kumar’s mobile phone and fled to Mathura. They returned to Ghaziabad on Thursday and were promptly arrested, ACP Yadav added.

Both men have been sent to jail . Further investigation is underway to determine if others were involved.