HYDERABAD: In a swift breakthrough, Falaknuma police have arrested three individuals in connection with the brutal murder of a 26-year-old man, allegedly killed due to a long-standing grudge rooted in suspicions of black magic.
The case, registered at Falaknuma Police Station, was initiated following a complaint by Mohammed Azam, who reported that his younger brother, Md. Majid, had been murdered by unidentified individuals on 2 May near a café and pan shop in Teegalkunta, Falaknuma.
The investigation revealed that the accused—Shaik Mohd Ali (32), his brother Shaik Osman Ali (25), and their father Shaik Akthar Ali (72) – were former neighbours of the victim’s family in Mohammed Nagar, Bandlaguda. According to police, tensions between the families date back to 2018 when both lived in the same locality. After the complainant’s family moved away, the accused allegedly came to believe that they had been subjected to black magic, blaming the victim’s family for the death of their mother and deteriorating health of family members.
Driven by these suspicions, the accused reportedly plotted to eliminate a member of the complainant’s family, ultimately targeting Md. Majid.
On 5 May, acting on credible intelligence, Inspector K. Adi Reddy and his team apprehended the trio at Amberpet. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, and police recovered two knives believed to have been used in the murder, along with three mobile phones.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of South Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Sneha Mehra and ACP M.A. Javeed of Falaknuma Division. The accused were booked under multiple provisions, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.
Authorities stated that the murder was the result of a deep-seated and misguided belief in black magic, leading to a premeditated act of violence. The investigation continues as officials prepare to file the charge sheet.