Punjab police have unravelled a chilling tale of a serial killer who preyed on unsuspecting men, murdering 11 victims over 18 months across three districts. The accused, Ram Saroop, alias Sodhi, a 33-year-old from Chora village in Hoshiarpur, combined calculated brutality with an eerie ritual—seeking forgiveness from his victims after killing them.
His crimes, spanning Rupnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur, came to light after his arrest on Tuesday.
KILLER’S MODUS OPERANDI
Saroop's modus operandi was disturbingly consistent. Working as a sex worker, he would ask for lift from men he encountered at night. He would negotiate monetary terms with them. If monetary dispute arose over payment, the situation often escalated to violence. Most of the victims were strangled with his muffler, while others succumbed to head injuries. After committing the murders, Saroop would bizarrely seek forgiveness by touching the victims’ feet and writing the word “dhokebaaz” (traitor) on their backs.
In his confession, Saroop detailed how his crimes were often fuelled by alcohol. In one instance, he negotiated Rs 150 for sexual services with a mechanic, but a dispute led to violence. Saroop claimed the mechanic attacked him first, hitting him with a stick. In retaliation, he strangled the victim with his muffler and later sought forgiveness from the corpse.
KILLER’S TROUBLED DOMESTIC LIFE
Investigations revealed that Saroop’s personal life was fraught with turmoil. Married with three children, his family abandoned him two years ago upon learning about his sexual orientation.
ARREST AND PROBE
Saroop was initially detained for the murder of Maninder Singh, a 37-year-old tea vendor at the Modra toll plaza, on August 18. During interrogation, he admitted to killing 10 more men. Police have so far confirmed five of these cases, with investigations ongoing to verify the others.
Saroop confessed that he often couldn’t remember all the crimes due to being intoxicated during his acts.
Source: India Today