In the early hours of 2 January, Naresh Dhankar went on a murdering spree in Palwal, on the outskirts of Delhi, killing six people using an iron rod. The horrific incident was captured on CCTV footage.
Incidentally, Naresh retired as a lieutenant in the Indian Army in 2002. He served for three years in the armed forces and he was discharged on medical grounds.
Speaking exclusively to The Quint, Chandrapal Dhankar, Naresh’s brother, said his brother wasn’t always like this.
According to his brother, who retired as a subedar from the army, said after Naresh became a lieutenant, his first posting was in Kalimpong. He suspects that it was during this posting that his brother slipped into depression.
In 2000, prior to his retirement, Naresh underwent treatment for non-organic psychosis in Bagdogra Army Hospital. The doctors declared that he was unfit to serve in the army.
According to Chandrapal, after Naresh returned from the army, he underwent medical treatment for mental illness. Soon after, he got into an accident which further damaged his brain.
After almost four years of medical treatment after leaving the army, Naresh was declared mentally fit by doctors. In 2006, Naresh joined the Agricultural Department as Agricultural Development Officer in Bhiwani, said Chandrapal.
Naresh and his wife got married in February 2007. His wife is the daughter of a retired army officer.
Naresh and his wife lived together for two years. She left him after that and went to live with her parents. The couple has an eight-year-old son. Naresh had abused his wife on a few occasions, said Chandrapal, adding that his wife never cared for him all these years.
The Quint tried to reach out to Naresh’s wife but she refused to speak to us.
Chandrapal said that the horrific incident shook the entire family. When they reached the spot, they informed police about his mental illness.
On Tuesday, after the incident of serial killings, Naresh was admitted in the Safdurjung Hospital for brain haemorrhage. So far, it is not clear how he was injured. While police say that Naresh fell in the drain when he tried to run away, the accused’s family suspect he was beaten by the police.
The Quint is putting out Naresh’s brother’s version to understand what led to the incident.
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