Surinder Koli, accused and acquitted in 2006 Nithari killings, found dead

DEHRADUN: After spending nearly 19 years in prison and escaping gallows by a few hours, Surinder Koli, 53, who was once the prime accused in the infamous Nithari case, was allegedly found hanging inside his tea kiosk in Haridwar on Friday, barely five days after starting the business. Branded the “Nithari cannibal” in a case of gruesome killings of women and children that shocked the nation, Koli was acquitted by the Supreme Court last Nov, and was now living as a “free man”.According to police, to hide his past, Koli was probably using a “different name” in Haridwar since most of the locals knew him as “Sada Ram”. After his death, police recovered his Aadhaar card which revealed his real name.On Friday morning, customers, who frequented his kiosk, found it shut. “They tried to peep inside, and found him hanging from a noose.