Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur
Puttur, Feb 22: The owner of the taxi that was found mysteriously abandoned on the highway at Neerakatte here a few days ago was found murdered on Sunday February 21. It is suspected that his murder was plotted by his second wife who herself had lodged the missing complaint in Konaje police station.
The body of Ismail, the driver and owner of the cab that been reportedly last hired by four unknown persons, was founded in a wooded area in Kandaka near Shiradi border. The body was covered in twigs and branches so it would not be visible. The murderers then left his car about 30 km away on the highway at Neerakatte and escaped.
It may be recalled on February 17, the locals had found a taxi abandoned at Neerakatte, and during inspection by police, blood stains were found in its trunk, the backseats were turned in different directions and the key was in the ignition. A mobile number on the back of the car was found to be switched off. The registration documents revealed that the car belonged to V A Ismail of Konaje.
A day after the incident was reported in the media, Ismail''s second wife Nabeesa filed a missing complaint about her husband in the Konaje police station. However, as there were inconsistencies in her statements, the police made her their central point of investigation.
The Konaje police led by inspector Ashok then took into custody two persons named Riyaz and Jamal who were reportedly with Ismail on the day he disappeared. During interrogation, they revealed that Ismail had been murdered. The police swung into action and on Sunday made one of the two persons in custody to lead the cops to the spot where the body had been discarded. The body, covered in branches, was then found in a secluded spot in Kandaka, sloping down about 50 ft. As the murder is suspected to have taken place about five days ago, the body was decomposed.
In a twist of sorts, it is now revealed that Ismail''s second wife Nabeesa, who had lodged the missing complaint, had allegedly plotted the whole murder. She got Riyaz, Jamal and two others to kill her husband as he opposed her immoral activities, police sources said.
The police are now looking for two other accused who were with Ismail in his car on the day he disappeared.
Murdered in drunken stupor
It is learnt that the four persons who hired his car from Farangipet stopped at a bar and restaurant in Nelyady and had a hearty dinner and got drunk. Ismail too was reportedly drunk and in an inebriated state, the others killed him in the car itself and after shoving the body in the trunk, and threw it at Kandaka. They then left the car on the highway in the middle of the night and escaped.
Search for body
As news of two persons being taken into custody spread, Ismail''s relatives and locals gathered in large numbers and began a search for Ismail''s body. They searched every nook and corner from Sannampady to the Shiradi border, but they could not find the body as they had no clue about where it was hidden. It was only later after the police brought the two suspects that the body was located.