Steephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod

Kasargod, Apr 14: In a major breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested the accused in the brutal murder of auto rickshaw driver Muhammad Sharif (52), originally from Mulki. The incident had occurred near Manjeshwar, where Sharif’s body was found dumped in a well.

The arrested accused has been identified as Abhishek Shetty (40) from Suratkal. According to police sources, Abhishek had committed the crime alone, motivated by previous enmity. He confessed to the crime during interrogation. Further custodial interrogation is underway.

Based on CCTV footage and other leads, the accused was traced and apprehended from Baikampady, police said.

Police revealed that Abhishek had previous cases related to drug abuse and was under the influence of narcotics when he committed the murder.

The feud between Sharif and Abhishek reportedly stemmed from an incident about six months ago, when Sharif, while driving his auto rickshaw, had a dispute over giving way to a school bus driven by Abhishek. Following this, Abhishek was terminated from his job as a school bus driver, leading him to suspect Sharif was responsible and seek revenge.

On April 9 night, Abhishek allegedly hired Sharif's auto rickshaw and lured him to a deserted area near Kunjathur Paduvu in Manjeshwar. There, he stabbed Sharif to death with a knife and dumped his body in a well. After the crime, he reportedly fled the scene, boarded a scooter, and took shelter at a relative’s house in Talapady.

The investigation team examined footage from as many as 208 CCTV cameras, collected information from auto drivers and others, and narrowed down the suspect. With technical assistance from Mangaluru police, the accused was arrested within three days of the crime.

Police said Abhishek had altered his hairstyle prior to the crime, making it difficult for Sharif to recognize him at night.

The accused was familiar with the Kunjathur Paduvu area, often frequenting the spot for drug dealings. Police are yet to recover the knife used in the crime and further investigations are underway.

The SIT was formed under the supervision of ASP V Balakrishnan Nair and DySP V Sunil Kumar, led by Manjeshwar SI Anoop Kumar.

Muhammad Sharif, who operated his auto rickshaw at Kolnad auto stand, was reported missing by his family at the Mulki police station on April 9 night. On April 10, his abandoned auto rickshaw was found near Kunjathur Paduvu. Bloodstains at the spot led to a search operation with the help of Manjeshwar police, resulting in the discovery of Sharif’s body in a nearby well. A post-mortem conducted at Pariyaram Medical College confirmed death due to homicide.

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