Greater Noida, May 8 (IANS) Panic gripped Greater Noida after two labourers were found brutally murdered inside an under-construction hostel of the Sitaram Institute in the Knowledge Park Police Station area on Friday, police said.

The bodies of the two workers were discovered in a blood-soaked condition inside a room on the hostel premises. Preliminary investigation suggests that the assailants may have used a sharp-edged weapon to carry out the murders.

The incident sent shockwaves through the area, following which senior police officials rushed to the spot.

According to police, three labourers had recently arrived at the site for gardening-related work and had been staying in a room within the under-construction hostel premises for the past two days.

The crime came to light on Friday morning when fellow workers and staff members grew suspicious after the room remained locked, and there was no response from inside. Upon entering the room, they found the two labourers lying dead in pools of blood and immediately alerted the police.

A team from the Knowledge Park Police Station reached the spot and cordoned off the area. Forensic experts were also called in to collect evidence from the crime scene. Blood stains and signs of a struggle were reportedly found inside the room.

Officials said prima facie the incident appears to be linked to a personal dispute or old rivalry, though no conclusion has been reached so far, and all possible angles are being investigated.

Meanwhile, the third labourer who was staying with the deceased has been missing since the incident surfaced. Police teams have launched a search operation to trace him and ascertain his role, if any, in the case.

Police said two special investigation teams have been formed to crack the double murder case at the earliest. Officials added that CCTV footage from the hostel premises and nearby areas is being thoroughly examined to identify the accused and reconstruct the sequence of events.

The gruesome murders have created an atmosphere of fear among labourers working at the construction site as well as nearby residents.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, while police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the crime at the earliest.

–IANS

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