Ganja mafia suspected to be behind driver’s murder

The police team investigating the the murder of a taxi driver at Rayamangalam, near Perumbavoor, suspect the involvement of an Idukki-based ganja mafia behind the murder.

The suspicion surfaced after the police examined the call details of the victim Hyder Ali, 45.

The cops learnt that the last call was made from Idukki on Wednesday midnight. So it is suspected that the murder was committed between Wednesday night and early morning on Thursday.

It was revealed in the preliminary investigation that Hyder’s taxi was hired by an unidentified youth for a trip to Idukki on Wednesday. Hyder Ali’s half-burnt body was found in a bush at Rayamangalam on Thursday morning. He was brutally beaten and stabbed before being set ablaze.

The murder would have been committed when Hyder either refused to transport ganja to Perumbavoor or while having a clash with his customers.

Meanwhile, the autopsy of Hyder’s body was held at Alappuzha Medical College, revealing that an injury on his head resulted in his death.

No sharp tools were used for the killing, but there were wounds on the body. A forensic team visited the crime scene on Friday.

It is suspected that petrol was used to burn the body. The police are yet to locate his Indica car and mobile phone.