Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Mar 28: In a suspected case of murder, the body of a youth was found buried under a huge mound of sand at Kumble here on Thursday March 27. 

The deceased was later identified as Shafique (27), son of Ahmed, former member of Kumble gram panchayat.

Some locals found that a head was jutting out of a pile of sand on Thursday evening. They conveyed this information to Kumble police station. The police arrived at the spot and extracted the body. As the body was found with hands and legs tied, with 18 stab injuries all over the body, the police suspect this to be a case of murder.

Police suspect that four persons were involved in Shafique's murder. Three pairs of footwear were found near the body, and so also a bottle of liquor. One of the accused is said to have escaped to Mumbai.

It is said that someone came to his house on the previous night and took him away by bike at around 8.30 pm. When Shafique's mother called him his mobile phone, someone else answered and said that Shafique had kept his phone for charging and gone off to Uppala. At around 11 pm when Shafique's father tried his number, the phone was switched. The worried parents and family members searched for him in vain. Later on, his body was found buried in the sand a few kilometres away from their house.

As three cases were filed against Shafique in Kumble station, the police suspect that his murder might have been an act of revenge. Last year, Shafique had allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a tempo driver. He was also charged of assaulting a boy and of pelting stones at a house.

The body was shifted to Pariyaram Medical College Hospital for post mortem.

A case was registered at Kumble police station and investigation is on.