Police Forces Overseas
| Author | E. M. Rogers |
| Published date | 01 July 1934 |
| Date | 01 July 1934 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X3400700314 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Police Forces Overseas
AFAMOUS
INDIAN
MURDER
CASE
THE
DELHI
TRUNK
CRIME
By E. M. ROGERS, Indian Police, C.LD. Allahabad
ON znd October 1924 the down Punjab Mail, en route from Kalka to
Howrah (Calcutta), arrived at Moghul Sarai, a big junction in the United
Provinces, at 4.55 p.m., one hour and a quarter late.
Three
passengers
entered an empty intermediate class compartment, and saw a large galvanized
steel trunk lying between the seats. They informed the railway staff at
Moghul Sarai, and at the next stop, as no one came to claim the trunk, they
told the guard. As the train was late, however, no action was taken until
arrival at Howrah early the following morning. Here the trunk was opened
in the presence of the Railway Police, and was found to contain the naked
corpse of a man, the neck and knees being tied together with a torn piece
of a dhoti (lower garment), and the face being covered with a piece of kurta
(upper garment).
The
throat was cut almost from ear to ear, and there was
a stab wound in the pit of the stomach, besides several other incised wounds
of minor importance.
The
body was in a highly decomposed condition.
An inquest was held, the corpse and the trunk were photographed, and
the finger impressions of the dead man were taken.
The
body was then
sent for post-mortem examination, which was held at 4 p.m. the same day.
The
doctor stated in the post-mortem report that death was due to haemorr-
hage and shock from the effects of the injuries detailed, which were most
probably homicidal and caused by a sharp weapon. He was of opinion that
death had occurred more than thirty-six hours before post-mortem examina-
tion, and also declared that the deceased had taken food within four hours
of his death, as semi-digested food was present in the stomach.
The
food
was stated to be vegetarian.
The
trunk was carefully examined.
It
was of galvanized steel, meas-
uring 36" x 18" xIS", and after the fashion of Indian-made steel trunks, it
was fastened by a hasp and a padlock in addition to the body lock.
The
padlock was an ordinary one of '
Miller'
make.
The
body lock bore the
inscription'Mukhtar
Ahmad, Benares.' Neither the name of the manu-
facturer of the trunk, nor the name of the place where it was made, was
visible anywhere.
The
trunk was tested for finger-prints, and photographs
were taken of three found.
The
piece of dhoti, with which the body was tied, had a mark ' t '
made with black thread at one end, and had a black border.
Investigation was started by the Government Railway Police, Howrah.
2A
369
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