Movie tickets help police crack murder

According to Wadala police,the body was found on Container Road on June 3.

He had been stabbed in the throat and the torso several times with a sharp object,and had no identification on him.

“We found two unused tickets for a movie at Nishat cinema hall in Nagpada in his pocket. We took a picture of the victim and used a photo editing software to clean up blood on the face and printed several passport size copies. We then sent a team to the cinema hall with the photograph,” said DCP Tanaji Ghadge,Port Zone.

The cinema hall manager did not recognise the deceased. He told the police that most of his customers were people who lived in the vicinity.

Police then formed an eleven-member team and fanned out in the red light district of Kamathipura,armed with copies of the victim’s photograph.

Finally,a woman in the area recognised the man.

“When we asked the woman if she knew the deceased,her first response was to ask what was wrong. We told her he had died in an accident,at which she started crying. She identified him as Shikaar Khan (40),and said he had been introduced to her by his friend Anurul Sheikh,another regular customer. We then sent a team to West Bengal,where Sheikh stays,” said an officer.

Sheikh allegedly told police that Khan used to work as a labourer for a contractor in Nagpada,and had frequent arguments with his colleague Shrihari Dalabi (37),a carpenter.

Dalabi allegedly confessed to the murder while being questioned by police.

“Dalabi said whenever the two had an argument,Khan would abuse him publicly. Dalabi wanted to avenge this humiliation. On June 2,Dalabi invited Khan for a drink and took him to Wadala,where he,along with two of his friends,got Khan inebriated and then killed him,” said Ghadge.

Dalabi,as well as one of his two accomplices,identified as Suraj Rishdev (23) were arrested Sunday evening following the confession. The police are now looking for the third accomplice.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com