Munish Sood
Mandi
In a major breakthrough, the Mandi Police have solved the brutal m*urder of a 78-year-old Buddhist nun in the Sarkidhar area of Rewalsar, arresting three key accused after an intensive investigation that spanned over a month and extended into neighbouring states.
Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar, addressing the media, said that more than fifty individuals were examined during the probe. “Our teams also travelled to neighbouring states to verify leads. After detailed interrogation and technical analysis, we zeroed in on one suspect, Gagan Sharma from Kasol. That became the turning point in cracking this heinous crime,” he said.
The accused have been identified as Gagan Sharma (23), Gaurav Sharma (20), and Vishal (23), a resident of Shimla. All three have links to the Sarkidhar and Balh areas of Mandi district. Police said the arrests were made after sustained analysis of mobile phone data, toll barrier records, and field intelligence.
“Gagan Sharma was apprehended during a late-night operation, following which the other two accused were also taken into custody,” the SP added.
The victim, Orje Shoki, had been living alone in a hut near the Naina Devi forest and was engaged in religious practices at a nearby monastery. According to local inputs, she regularly performed prayers and rituals, and devotees often offered money as part of religious contributions. It is believed that she had cash with her, which may have made her vulnerable.
Investigators are also examining information suggesting that the grandmother of the prime accused used to visit the nun regularly to deliver milk. This indicates that Gagan Sharma was likely familiar with the victim and her routine, which may have played a role in the execution of the crime.
The victim’s body was recovered on March 4, bearing multiple deep injuries inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon, pointing to the extreme brutality of the attack. Preliminary findings indicate that the accused are habitual drug users, and the crime may have been committed either to procure narcotics or with the intent of robbery.
“The exact motive is still under investigation. All angles are being examined. Details of the post-mortem report cannot be disclosed at this stage,” SP Vinod Kumar said.
Police said the three accused will be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on Saturday, where their remand will be sought for further interrogation. “Further legal proceedings will be carried out as per law,” the SP stated, adding that efforts are ongoing to establish the complete chain of events.
The case, which had triggered widespread concern due to the victim’s age and the isolated location of her residence, is now being seen as a significant success for the district police, even as it raises serious concerns about the intersection of drug abuse and violent crime in the region.
