While most streaming content promises a relaxing time on the couch, some titles leave us thinking long after we’ve turned off the screen, and sometimes keep us up at night. Such is the case with “Sector 36,” the latest Indian crime thriller on Netflix that has sparked intense discussion.
The film follows Ram Charan Pandey, a sub-inspector in an under-resourced police department in Sector 36, Noida. He’s tasked with investigating a harrowing case of missing children, forcing him to confront not only a dangerous serial killer but also a deeply entrenched web of corruption.
The story is so gripping and heart-wrenching that many viewers are left wondering if it draws inspiration from real-life events. Here’s a look at the influences that make “Sector 36” the kind of picture that lingers in your mind for days.
All on the case that inspired ‘Sector 36’
Unfortunately, Netflix’s “Sector 36” is based on a true story. The film portrays the chilling events of the 2006 Noida serial murders, also known as the Nithari serial murders, which took place in the home of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher in Noida, India, between 2005 and 2006.
Pandher and his servant, Surinder Koli, were accused of the abduction and murder of at least 17 victims, mostly young girls, along with one adult. As reported by India Today, it was alleged that Koli lured the children to the house with sweets and chocolates before brutally killing them.
As depicted in the Netflix production, the case not only gained notoriety for its horrific nature but also due to the involvement of powerful figures who obstructed justice. Local authorities and influential organizations were accused of protecting the perpetrators, further complicating the pursuit of accountability. However, the story did not end there.
Starting 2009, Moninder Singh Pandher and Surinder Koli were convicted and sentenced to death multiple times. Yet, in a shocking turn of events in 2023, both were acquitted of all charges following appeals, as the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to conclusively prove their guilt. The decision devastated the victims’ families, many of whom had been holding out hope for justice. One family member, speaking to The Hindu, expressed their dismay: “This court might have acquitted those monsters but there is a bigger court of God who will not spare them”.
