5, including minor, held for murder of auto driver

HYDERABAD: Twelve days after the body of an auto driver was found at Jalpally, the Hyderabad Police on Saturday arrested five persons for murder. T Sainath, 28, police said was killed by Sheikh Ismail and Sheikh Amer. Ahmed Ali Khan, Abdul Sameer and a juvenile acted as accomplices.
On April 30, Ismail, Amer, the juvenile and their friend Shera engaged the auto of the victim at Lingampally and agreed to pay Rs 700 for dropping them at Chintalmet, Rajendranagar. At 12.40 am on April 1, the juvenile and Shera got down from the auto at Tolichowki, while Ismail and Amer continued their journey in the auto. The two, on reaching Fish Building around 12.55 am, gave Rs 500 to Sainath. “The deceased asked them to pay Rs 700, the amount agreed upon, but Ismail and Amer who were intoxicated,attacked the deceased inside the auto,’’ police said.
Meanwhile, the accused contacted Ahmed Ali Khan, who brought a knife and gave it to Ismail and Amer and left the scene. “Using the knife, the accused threatened the driver and asked him to drive them to Jalpally. Around 1.25 am, they reached Jalpally lake. The victim refused to accept Rs 500 and an argument ensued. When Sainath threatened to call the police, Adil stabbed him with the knife in the abdomen and throat,’’ police said in a press note. The accused who were covered in blood in the attack bathed and washed their clothes in Jalpally lake and then contacted the juvenile. The three set the auto ablaze at Chintalmet. Police analysed footage from CCTV cameras along 40 km to identify the accused.