Month after decomposed body found in Vatva, victim’s friend confesses to murdering him

In a chilling revelation, Vatva police have uncovered the truth behind the decomposed body of a man who had gone missing over a month ago. The accused, a friend of the victim, confessed to killing him in a fit of rage and concealing the body in a pit filled with drain water and waste near his home.

The victim, Abid alias Aslam Sheikh, had been missing since March 25. His mother, Habibabanu Sheikh, a resident of Imdadnagar in Marida Bhagol area of Kheda district, had lodged a missing person complaint at Vatva police station after Abid failed to return home. He lived in Insaniyatnagar, Vatva, with his wife and two children.

According to police, Habibabanu had travelled from Nadiad to stay with her son on March 24. The next day, after mediating a domestic dispute involving another son, Irfan, she returned to Ahmedabad with Abid. Around 6 pm, Abid told his mother and wife that he was going to collect money from a man named Firoz, and left on his moped.

Shortly afterwards, Abid’s friend Mohammad Rafiq arrived at the house, saying Abid had forgotten his phone. Rafiq took the phone and left. Later, Abid’s wife called and was told by Abid that he was waiting for Firoz to arrive, so he could collect money for a visa.

Firoz eventually came to the house and informed the family that he had already given the money to Abid. When confronted, Firoz claimed that Abid had gone to Shah Alam after receiving the cash. Meanwhile, Rafiq returned with Abid’s moped, further fuelling suspicion. He claimed he had last seen Abid sitting with him, Firoz, and Firoz’s son, but had left to buy tea and found Abid missing upon his return.

Despite efforts by the family, Abid remained untraceable. A breakthrough came when a woman named Rehanabanu approached the family and alleged that Firoz’s son, Hussain Sheikh, had killed Abid and concealed his body. Acting on the information, police and fire brigade personnel located the decomposed body in a pit near a drainage site, concealed in a mattress cover and dumped beneath waste and stagnant water.

Based on the clothing, the family identified the body as Abid’s. In police custody, Hussain Sheikh confessed to the murder. He claimed that Abid, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, had created a scene by repeatedly demanding money from his father. Hussain, enraged, strangled Abid, struck him on the head with a cement block, and suffocated him to death. He then wrapped the body in a mattress cover and dragged it to a nearby pit, where he concealed it under rubbish and wastewater.

Police said Hussain also took ₹30,000 in cash and Abid’s mobile phone from the body. While the cash was kept at his home, the phone was hidden near the crime scene. When Habibabanu mentioned she would track the phone location, Hussain panicked. He retrieved the device, concealed it in a coconut shell, and later threw it into the Sabarmati river while on his way to Sarkhej in an auto-rickshaw.

Vatva police have registered a case of murder against Hussain Sheikh and launched further investigation into the motive and possible involvement of others.