30-year-old man found murdered in Shivaji Nagar gutter

A 30-year-old man who was found dead in a gutter near the Shivaji Nagar dumping ground on Saturday was murdered, police said on Monday.

A 30-year-old man who was found dead in a gutter near the Shivaji Nagar dumping ground on Saturday was murdered, police said on Monday.

HT Image

The police had initially assumed that the man had died of natural causes. But, the post-mortem report proved that the man had been smothered to death. The police have now registered a case of murder against unknown persons.

Inspector DM Desai said, “Around 7.15am on Saturday, some locals spotted the body of a man in a gutter. After his body was fished out, he was identified as Mohamad Ismail Ansari, a resident of Shivaji Nagar.” He added, “The man was bleeding profusely from his ears and nose.

The body was sent to Rajawadi Hospital for a post-mortem. Initially, a report of accidental death was filed, but was changed to murder.”

An officer from Shivaji Nagar police station speaking on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media, said, “Ansari, used to work in an embroidery unit in Shivaji Nagar. Ansari’s relatives told us he had run away from home in Bihar around 15 years ago. A few months ago, after his parents passed away, he came to the city and contacted his relatives living here. Ever since, he has been staying in Kamala Raman Nagar in Govandi, close to where his relatives live.”

Residents from Shivaji Nagar protested outside the Shivaji Nagar police station on Monday, saying the area had been witnessing a lot of criminal activity in the past few months.

Assistant commissioner of police (Deonar division) said, “We are taking preventive measures to ensure that crime is under control. But, since a major portion of the area is occupied by slums, where petty fights become serious crimes, it becomes difficult.”