In a significant breakthrough, the Bengaluru police have arrested a man from Odisha for the brutal murder of his neighbour's six-year-old daughter in the city's Whitefield area. The accused, identified as 35-year-old Yusuf Meer, was detained at Cuttack railway station by a special police team before being formally arrested and brought back to Karnataka.
The Crime and the Chase
The horrific incident occurred on Monday, January 5, 2026. The victim, Shanaz Khatu, was the daughter of Inzamul Sheik. Both families, originally from West Bengal, lived as neighbours in a migrant settlement in Whitefield. According to police officials, Meer allegedly murdered the young girl before fleeing Bengaluru immediately after the crime.
A special team from the Whitefield police station was formed to track the fugitive. Their investigation traced Meer's movements to Odisha, where he was travelling by train. The team successfully intercepted and detained him on Wednesday, January 7, when his train made a halt at Cuttack railway station.
Complex Journey and Legal Process
Following the detention, the police team obtained a transit warrant from a local court in Odisha. The return journey to Bengaluru was complicated by the absence of direct train services. The team, along with the accused, had to travel via Hyderabad, finally arriving in the Karnataka capital on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Upon arrival, Meer was formally arrested. The police stated their intention to produce him before a court and seek his custody for further detailed interrogation. Officers confirmed that no prior criminal cases were registered against the accused.
Motive Behind the Heinous Act
Preliminary investigations point to long-simmering tensions between the families as the trigger for this extreme violence. Police revealed that frequent disputes between Yusuf Meer and the child's mother were a regular feature. These arguments reportedly centred around mundane yet contentious issues common in densely populated settlements.
The key flashpoints included:
- Collection of drinking water from a common source.
- Use of the shared space in front of their dwellings.
- Storage of scrap materials collected by both families.
Adding a layer of professional rivalry to the personal animosity, both families were engaged in rag-picking. This competition over scrap collection is believed to have exacerbated the ongoing tensions, which tragically culminated in the killing of an innocent child. Police have stated that further investigation is ongoing to uncover every detail of the case.
