In a shocking incident from Bengaluru's tech corridor, city police have arrested a 35-year-old ragpicker for the alleged murder of his neighbour's six-year-old daughter. The crime, which has sent ripples through the Nallurahalli area of Whitefield, was reportedly the result of intense personal rivalry between two families.
Interstate Manhunt Leads to Arrest
The accused, identified as Yusuf Khan, was apprehended not in Karnataka, but in the distant state of Odisha. Acting on a tip-off, a dedicated team from the Whitefield police station tracked Khan's movements and discovered he had boarded a train heading towards Bhubaneswar.
The police team successfully intercepted the train and detained Khan when it made a scheduled stop at Cuttack railway station on Wednesday. With the assistance of a transit warrant issued by a local court in Odisha, the officers began the journey back to Bengaluru with the accused in custody.
Roots of a Deadly Feud
Initial interrogation by the police has revealed a tragic backstory to the crime. Khan allegedly confessed to being deeply upset with the victim's mother due to frequent altercations. The disputes were described as petty yet persistent, revolving around daily domestic issues in their cramped living conditions.
The key points of contention included:
- Arguments over who should collect drinking water first from a common source.
- Disagreements regarding the occupation of the shared front yard space of their small houses.
- Conflicts related to the storage of scrap materials, which is central to Khan's profession as a ragpicker.
An investigating officer stated that this "professional rivalry added to the discord", creating a volatile environment that ultimately claimed the life of an innocent child.
Victim Details and Community Impact
The young victim has been named as Shanaz Khatu, the daughter of Khan's neighbour, Inzamul Sheik. In a poignant detail, both the accused's family and the victim's family originally hail from West Bengal, having migrated to Bengaluru for work.
The murder took place on Tuesday in Nallurahalli. Police allege that Khan strangled the little girl to death. Following the crime, he fled the city, leading to the cross-country chase. Due to a lack of direct train connectivity from Odisha, the police team bringing Khan back had to travel via Hyderabad, reaching there on Thursday night before their final leg to Bengaluru.
The case highlights the severe consequences of unresolved neighbourhood disputes in densely populated urban areas. The Whitefield police have charged Yusuf Khan with murder, and a thorough investigation is underway as the community grapples with the senseless loss of a young life.
