By Our Staff Reporter
Haldwani, 14 Dec: The dead body of Forest Range Officer Harish Chandra Pandey, who was posted in Terai Central Forest Division, was recovered by Bhimtal Police from the Bhimtal Lake on Wednesday.
It may be recalled that Pandey had been missing for the last 15 days. The family members of Ranger Pandey had accused some department officials of harassing him. The 55-year-old Ranger Harish Chandra Pandey, a resident of Unchapul in Kathgodam police station area, had gone missing on the evening of 29 November. Even after a lot of searching, he could not be found. The family members were also trying to find him through social media. Harish Chandra Pandey’s disappearance was registered at Mukhani police station. Bhimtal police station in-charge Virendra Bisht said that people informed the Police about a dead body lying in Bhimtal lake yesterday evening. After which the police reached the spot and investigated the body and it was identified as that of Harish Chandra Pandey.
During the police investigation, the last location of Harish Chandra Pandey was seen near the police station. Now, after 15 days, the body of Ranger Harish Chandra Pandey has been recovered. According to the police, prima facie the case appears to be that of suicide. The entire matter is being investigated. Pandey had left home on the evening of 29 November following which he had no contact with any family member.
During the course of investigation, the Police had also found his last two locations. In the first location, he was seen sitting in an auto and going towards Kathgodam. In the second, he was seen getting down from the taxi in Bhimtal. These two photographs of Ranger Harish Chandra Pandey were seen on the CCTV.
