Death in a liquor tetra pack: Cyanide plot by woman to kill her brother results in 3 deaths

WChapeau was ab initio suspected to be a caseful of spurious strong drink deaths in Meerut's Daurala has at present emerged as a chilling case of premeditated murder. Police allege that a woman, her lover, and a goldsmith conspired to kill her brother by lacing a tetra pack of country-made liquor with cyanide.Police on Sunday arrested Alka, sister of deceased Ankit alias Daulat, her alleged lover Pawan, and goldsmith Ashok alias Soni, who is accused of supplying the poison for ₹500.Senior Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey said the conspiracy was aimed at eliminating Ankit, but the poisoned liquor also killed his two companions - Baburam and Jitendra - turning the plot into a triple murder.The three men died on the night of April 3 after consuming liquor in Daurala. Initial suspicion centred on toxic or spurious alcohol, but post-mortem examination confirmed cyanide poisoning, prompting police to launch a homicide probe.According to investigators, the motive stemmed from prolonged domestic abuse and Ankit’s opposition to Alka’s relationship with Pawan.Police said Ankit frequently assaulted his sister after consuming alcohol and had recently, in an alleged drunken state, also molested her, leaving Alka deeply distressed. Unable to cope with the alleged abuse, she reportedly confided in Pawan, following which the two allegedly hatched a plan to kill him.Investigators said Pawan then approached his acquaintance Ashok, a local goldsmith, who allegedly informed him that cyanide is used in cleaning jewellery and that even a small quantity can be fatal.Police allege that Pawan paid Ashok ₹500 and obtained a packet of cyanide.In their first attempt, Pawan allegedly gave the poison to Alka, asking her to mix it into Ankit’s food. However, investigators said she got cold feet and did not go through with the plan.Two days later, the conspiracy allegedly moved to a second, more lethal plan.According to police, Pawan gave ₹100 to a local youth to purchase a tetra pack of country-made liquor. After it was brought, he allegedly opened the pack, mixed in the cyanide, and carefully resealed it with adhesive tape to avoid suspicion.The tampered liquor pack was then handed to Ankit. Given his alleged addiction to alcohol, he reportedly accepted it without hesitation and later consumed it along with his two associates, Baburam and Jitendra.“All three consumed the liquor and collapsed soon after. They later died during treatment,” a senior investigator said.The deaths initially triggered fears of a hooch tragedy. However, suspicion deepened when police found that several others had purchased liquor from the same government outlet, yet none reported any illness.This discrepancy prompted investigators to focus on the specific liquor pack consumed by the trio.The case took a decisive turn when police examined Pawan’s mobile phone and reportedly found a month-long Google search trail related to cyanide, poisons, and methods of administration.Investigators said the digital evidence became a key link in establishing premeditation and conspiracy.“The search history clearly showed sustained online research on cyanide, its procurement, and use. This proved to be a crucial breakthrough,” a police officer associated with the probe said.Following sustained interrogation, police arrested all three accused.They have been booked under charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. Further forensic examination of digital evidence and chemical traces is underway.