Vijayawada police on Tuesday arrested a 45-year-old butcher over the killing of a 29-year-old woman whose dismembered body parts were recovered from a canal, a senior officer said. The accused, identified as Shaik Shafi, runs a mutton shop in Bhavanipuram, the police said.
Police say dispute over money led to killing
Durga Rao, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Vijayawada West, told PTI that the victim, identified as Kalyani, was killed on September 17. Rao said Shafi allegedly slit her throat, cut the body into pieces and disposed of the remains in a nearby cooling canal.
"Shafi has been arrested for slitting Kalyani's throat and later cutting her body into pieces and dumping them in a canal," Rao said.
Investigators indicated the killing arose from an ongoing monetary dispute between the two. Police said Shafi had adopted Kalyani's son about four years ago and that the pair had been intimate briefly. Officers allege Kalyani repeatedly demanded money from Shafi and treated him like an "ATM," at times taking thousands of rupees. The probe is examining whether threats from Kalyani to make a public complaint if payments were not made escalated the confrontation.
Arrest, questioning and other suspects
Police arrested Shafi in connection with the crime and are interrogating him about the sequence of events. According to media reports, another individual who worked at Shafi's mutton shop has also been detained for questioning as investigators seek to establish whether he assisted in disposing of the remains.
- Victim: Kalyani, 29 years old
- Accused: Shaik Shafi, 45, butcher in Bhavanipuram
- Date of alleged murder: September 17
- Recovery location: Cooling canal in Golapudi/Ibrahimpatnam area
How the case came to light
The body parts were discovered in the Ibrahimpatnam area, prompting police to begin an identification process. Relatives later recognised the woman from a tattoo on her hand and informed the authorities, which provided the lead officers needed to link the recovered remains to Kalyani.
Forensic teams and local investigators are examining the scene and evidence gathered from Shafi's shop and residence. The police said the exact number of body parts and details such as whether any weapon was recovered are part of the ongoing forensic examination.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Alleged motive | Monetary dispute between victim and accused |
| Adoption link | Accused had adopted the victim's son around four years ago |
| Initial ID | Relatives recognised tattoo to identify the deceased |
Investigation and legal process
Vijayawada police said they will produce the accused before a competent court after completion of primary formalities. The investigation team is compiling witness statements and pursuing forensic leads, including autopsy results, to determine the precise cause and timing of death and to corroborate the accused's involvement.
Officers emphasised that more evidence is being gathered to establish whether other persons were complicit in the disposal of the body. Any additional arrests will depend on findings from ongoing inquiries.
Local reaction and context
The case has unnerved residents in Bhavanipuram and nearby localities, prompting calls for stricter community vigilance. Local shopkeepers and residents said the accused ran a small mutton business and was known in the area, though they expressed shock at the allegations.
Police have appealed to anyone with information about the incident or who may have seen the accused and victim together around the date of the alleged crime to come forward. Authorities said tips can aid a quicker and more complete reconstruction of events.
As the probe continues, officials are expected to release further details in the coming days after forensic and procedural steps are completed.
