According to reports, police in Faidpur, Bareily of Uttar Pradesh arrested two people dragging the body of the 42-year-old journalist on Station Road in Faidpur in the early hours of Friday 14 August. The third suspect managed to escape from the scene. Initial investigations showed that Pathak was hit on the head several times with heavy object, reports added.

Pathak was last seen talking to friends near his house in the Baxaria area late on Thursday night.