Abducted trader killed by cousin for Rs4.5m

Police sources say suspect was netted using modern tech; stolen cash seized

RAWALPINDI:

The mystery surrounding the abduction of a businessman, who went missing nine days ago after leaving home to retrieve prize bonds worth Rs4.5 million, has been solved, police sources said on Friday.

A senior police officer, who requested not to be named, told The Express Tribune that the victim's cousin kidnapped him out of greed for the money. After the abduction, the businessman was murdered on the roof of the house, and his body was burned.

The police, using modern technology and human intelligence, arrested the accused and recovered Rs500,000 in cash, along with an additional Rs2 million, from the suspect's house.

The victim's vest, in which he had been carrying money, was also recovered. The accused had disposed of the victim's mobile phone in a drain to avoid detection. The police gathered forensic evidence and launched an extensive investigation.

According to the details, Sheikh Ashraf, a resident of Lalazar, filed a report on December 27, informing the police that he works in prize bonds under the name of "Idrees Traders."

On the morning of December 26, he received a call from a man named Saqib Rehman, who inquired about his son, Mohsin Ashraf, asking if he was at home. Ashraf replied that Mohsin was not home.

Rehman then informed him that he had given Rs4.5 million to Mohsin on December 25 for the purchase of 1,500-rupee prize bonds and wanted to speak with him.

When Mohsin did not return home, Ashraf searched for him but could not find any trace. He also reported the matter to the police emergency service. His son had left in a car, prompting the police to register a case of abduction and begin their investigation.

Two days later, the police found the missing person's vehicle abandoned in the Saddar Beruni area. Upon learning of the severity of the case, the Rawalpindi CPO assigned the task of locating the missing person to Rawalpindi SP.

A police team led by the DSP and the SHO City, along with technical experts, expanded the investigation, using the victim's mobile phone data to track those who had been in contact with him. The last calls made before his disappearance led the police to a close relative and cousin of the victim, Mehr Ali.

Further investigation revealed that Ali had recently undergone significant changes in his lifestyle and was involved in animal fat melting, which raised suspicions. Police brought him in for questioning, and upon being confronted with the evidence, Ali made a shocking confession.

He admitted to luring his cousin, Mohsin Ashraf, to his house out of greed for the money, stabbing him to death, and then burning the body using fat-melting equipment on his rooftop.