Police track fugitive to Cuttack station following Whitefield crime.
In a significant breakthrough, a special police team from Karnataka successfully apprehended a murder suspect in Odisha. The accused, who was on the run after allegedly killing his neighbor’s six-year-old daughter in Bengaluru, was detained at the Cuttack railway station.
Identified as 35-year-old Yusuf Meer, the Bengaluru murder accused was brought back to the Karnataka capital on Friday. Police officials confirmed that they secured a transit warrant from a local court in Odisha before transporting him. Due to the lack of direct train availability at the time, the team had to travel via Hyderabad to ensure his swift return.
Crime Triggered by Petty Disputes
The tragic incident occurred on Monday in the Whitefield area of Bengaluru. Meer allegedly murdered Shanaz Khatu, the young daughter of his neighbor, Inzamul Sheik. Both families hail from West Bengal and were living in a migrant settlement, working as rag-pickers.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the motive behind the gruesome act was not a sudden burst of rage but the result of simmering tensions. Police sources revealed that Meer frequently argued with the victim's mother. These disputes centered on trivial, day-to-day issues such as fetching drinking water, utilizing common spaces outside their shanties, and storing scrap materials.
Professional Rivalry
Beyond domestic squabbles, professional rivalry also played a role. Since both families were engaged in rag-picking, competition over resources contributed to the hostility that eventually led to the child's death.
The Chase and Arrest
Following the crime, Meer fled the city, hoping to escape the law. However, the Whitefield police tracked his location to a train moving through Odisha. acting on intelligence, the team intercepted him when the train made a scheduled halt at Cuttack on Wednesday.
Meer, who reportedly has no prior criminal record, is scheduled to be produced before a magistrate on Friday. Investigators are currently seeking his custody to conduct a detailed interrogation regarding the sequence of events.
