The police’s inquiries into the murder of a young Kalyan resident, whose body was found in Kasara last month, has helped the police bust an opium smuggling racket. In a story straight out of maf-ia, the accused have confessed that the deceased, who worked as a driver for them, paid with his life for stealing from them.
According to Ulhasna-gar crime branch, Harish Shah (25), went missing on February 12. Acting on a tip-off, the police found his severed head and clot-hes in the forest near the Kasara Ghat. The officials then arrested Yusuf Path-an and Irshan Sheikh.
“Shah worked as a driver for the Pathan gang, which buys opium from Kashmir and sells it in the Thane district,” said a crime branch officer.
On April 2, the crime branch arrested Barkat Pathan, the head of the gang. It was during his interrogation that the reason behind Shah’s killing came to light.
The gang had completed a transaction, which was picked up by Shah in Karjat. However, when Barkat’s henchmen found that one of the sacks contained 30 kilograms of potatoes instead of opium, they hunted him down and killed him.
Machhindra Chavan, police inspector, Ulhasna-gar crime branch, confirmed that Barkat had confessed to killing Shah because of this double-cro-ss, but added, “The matter is under investigation and I cannot say anything else about it at this point.”