Bhiwandi: A long-standing land dispute in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, led to the brutal murder of 22-year-old Ola driver Akrim Iqbaluddin Qureshi in Bhiwandi last month. The Bhiwandi Taluka police have now cracked the case and arrested five accused involved in the crime. The murder took place on January 17 near the Tansa-Vaitarna Pipeline Road, close to Pogaon village in Bhiwandi.
Major Breakthrough In Murder Probe
The investigation took a major turn after the arrest of 25-year-old Jassi Tiwari in Thane on January 21. Police tracked her using CCTV footage and the victim’s mobile phone records. Her interrogation led to the arrest of four men from Uttar Pradesh, all of whom had a history with Akrim due to the land dispute.
Inspector Dadaso Edke and his team formed two separate squads to probe the case. CCTV footage showed Akrim was accompanied by a woman at the time of the incident, as reported by Hindustan Times. Further analysis of his phone data led to Tiwari’s identification and arrest, which proved to be a crucial breakthrough.
Land Dispute Led To Brutal Killing
Based on Tiwari’s confession, police arrested Mohammad Kaif, Isamuddin Riyazuddin Qureshi, Salman Mohammad Shafiq Khan and Suhail Ahmed Qureshi, all from Haiderpur village in Uttar Pradesh. Investigators revealed that Akrim had been embroiled in a dispute over ancestral land, which had led to escalating tensions between him and the four accused.
In July 2022, a heated argument over the property in Pratapgarh led the accused to plot Akrim’s murder. The four men travelled to Thane recently with a premeditated plan and enlisted Tiwari’s help to lure him into their trap. Tiwari, originally from Uttar Pradesh but residing in Thane, pretended to have a romantic interest in Akrim and invited him to Bhiwandi.
Once Akrim arrived at the location, the attackers ambushed him, striking him with an iron pipe and stones. After killing him, they disposed of his mobile phones and clothes in the Kalyan creek to eliminate evidence. With all five accused now in custody, Akrim’s family has demanded strict punishment, seeking justice for his murder.
