Kabaddi Player Murdered Over 3 600 Nat L Level Teen Talent S Life Snuffed Out In Meerut Accused Arrested

A 17-year-old national-level kabaddi player was allegedly murdered by a fast-food vendor over a debt of 3,600 in Uttar Pradesh s Meerut district, police said on Monday. The accused, who allegedly killed the teenager near a police outpost and dumped her body in... A 17-year-old national-level kabaddi player was allegedly murdered by a fast-food vendor over a debt of ₹3,600 in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, police said on Monday. The accused, who allegedly killed the teenager near a police outpost and dumped her body in a nearby drain, was arrested after an intensive six-week investigation that eventually led police to Chandigarh.The victim, Anushka Pal, a resident of Chirodi village in the Daurala area of Meerut, had been missing since April 16. Her disappearance triggered an extensive search operation, but it was only after investigators tracked her last phone contact that the case took a dramatic turn.Police identified the accused as Shyam Dhanak (42), a fast-food vendor who operated a stall near Anushka’s rented accommodation in Shobhapur under the Kankerkhera police station area. Following his arrest, Dhanak allegedly confessed to the crime, leading police to recover Anushka’s remains from a drain located close to the scene of the murder.Promising athleteAccording to family members and teachers, Anushka was a talented kabaddi player with a bright future ahead of her. Around two years ago, she moved to Meerut city to access better training facilities and pursue her sporting ambitions. She lived in a rented room with her brother, Anmol, while continuing her education and participating in competitive tournaments.She had represented her state in state-level and national-level kabaddi competitions and was regarded as one of the village’s most promising athletes. Her family believed she had the potential to represent India internationally. Anushka was also an NCC cadet.Debt DisputePolice investigations revealed that Anushka was a regular customer at Dhanak’s fast-food stall, where she had accumulated an unpaid bill. She had also borrowed money from Shyam, taking her total outstanding dues to approximately ₹3,600.According to investigators, Dhanak had repeatedly demanded repayment. On the night of April 15, at around 11 pm, he allegedly called Anushka to a location about 200 metres from the Shobhapur police outpost to discuss the matter.During the meeting, Anushka reportedly requested additional time to repay the money. However, the conversation escalated into a heated argument. Police said Dhanak allegedly became enraged and struck the teenager on the head with a brick, killing her on the spot.In an attempt to conceal the crime, he allegedly dumped her body in a drain situated barely 50 metres from the police outpost before fleeing to Chandigarh.A family’s searchWhen Anushka failed to return home, her brother repeatedly tried contacting her, but her phone remained switched off. Family members searched extensively for days but found no trace of her.On April 28, the family filed a missing person complaint at Kankerkhera police station. Despite weeks of investigation, police initially failed to uncover significant leads.The breakthrough came after investigators examined Anushka’s call detail records and identified the last person she