Haridwar, Sept. 23 -- Surendra Koli, who spent nearly two decades in jail before being acquitted in all 13 cases linked to the 2006 Nithari killings, died by suicide, according to his post-mortem report, Uttarakhand Police said on Wednesday.

Koli was found dead at a tea stall in Haridwar on September 18, and the autopsy found that he died of asphyxia due to ante-mortem hanging, police said.

"The autopsy report of Surendra Koli states it as a suicidal death. The cause of death is specified as asphyxia due to ante-mortem hanging. During the investigation also, no other forensic evidence, CCTV footage of any suspect person or suspicious activity came to light," in-charge of the City Police Station Kundan Singh Rana told HT.

Koli, who work...