In Lucknow, body of missing 35-year-old man found inside deep freezer at veg biryani shop

A 35-year-old man’s body was discovered inside a freezer at a vegetarian biryani shop in Lucknow’s Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT) area on Sunday morning, police said.

As per a TOI report, the deceased has been identified as Vijay Pal, a resident of Kishanpur Majra under the BKT police station limits.

According to officials, the shop had remained closed for the past three to four days following the death of the owner’s father. The body was found when the shop owner arrived to reopen the outlet and prepare for business.

Shop Was Closed for Several Days

As reported by NDTV, the biryani outlet is a temporary structure made of tin sheets on three sides and does not have a gate. The freezer in which Vijay Pal was found was reportedly disconnected from the power supply at the time.

Police said there were no visible external injuries on the body.

“This is a temporary shop without a gate. The freezer is also disconnected. A person has been found inside it. We have identified him as Vijay Pal. There is no apparent injury on his body. We are in contact with the family members. The cause of death is not clear,” a senior police officer told NDTV.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Victim Lived Alone; Identification Made Through Mobile Phone and Aadhaar

Family members told police that Vijay Pal worked as a daily wage labourer and had been living alone since separating from his wife five years ago. They also stated that he struggled with alcohol addiction.

Police identified him through his mobile phone and Aadhaar card, both of which were recovered from the scene.

Investigators also noted an unusual detail regarding his footwear. One of Pal’s slippers was found on a street corner near a local college, while the other was discovered inside the shop premises.

Investigation Underway in Lucknow Freezer Death Case

ADCP (North Zone) Rishabh Runwal stated that the post-mortem examination could not immediately establish the precise cause of death. Further medical and forensic analysis is expected to provide clarity.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine how Vijay Pal entered the shop and the circumstances that led to his death.

Inputs from agencies