Surendra Koli, 50, was laid to rest at a Ganga ghat on Saturday following his death at a tea stall in Haridwar on Friday. Koli had spent nearly two decades in prison before being acquitted last year of all 13 charges related to the Nithari killings, a high-profile case that drew significant media attention. His passing raises questions about the aftermath of his long legal battle and the societal implications surrounding his acquittal.
The rites were conducted at the Khadkhadi crematorium in Haridwar after a panel of doctors conducted his postmortem. “Police action will depend on these reports. Koli’s family members, several residents, vendors and police personnel were present at the funeral.
Police said they were awaiting the postmortem and forensic reports for further action. All angles are being looked into,” said City police station in-charge KS Rana.
Family Faces New Hardships After Sudden Death of Surendra Koli
Surendra Koli’s sudden death has plunged his family back into hardship, just as he had been striving to earn a livelihood. His son, 20-year-old Shivam Koli, performed the last rites and reflected on their struggles, saying, “I spent a little time with my father. He was trying to earn a livelihood…”.
For the past two decades, the Koli family has endured challenging times. A family friend, who requested anonymity, expressed concern over their situation, stating, “But his sudden death has again put the family in difficult times.”
Narayan Singh Rawat, a close friend of Koli, has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
What happened in the Nithari killings case
Both Koli and Pandher were arrested. The Nithari killings came to light in 2006 when skeletal remains of several children were discovered in a drain behind the Noida residence of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, where Koli worked as a domestic help.
