SIM card helps cops nab tailor killers

A stolen SIM card belonging to the deceased helped the Kalyan railway police nab four killers who had stabbed to death a Badlapur-based tailor.

They had thrown the body on the tracks between Ambernath and Badlapur railway stations on July 17 midnight, but not before taking away Rs270 and a SIM card  that was on it.

“We have arrested Shamsunder Pal, 25, Sandeep Jatav, 20, Pradeep Pal, 19 and Avadesh Kumar Jatav, 28, under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the IPC on Tuesday,” said senior police inspector AR Jagtap. He added that they were remanded in police custody till August 26 by the Kalyan railway court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched to nab their Associate, Keshav Singh Jatav, who is still at large.

The incident came to light on July 18 at 7.30am when the railway police found the body.  

Sub-inspector A Nirmal and his team’s efforts bore fruit when the deceased was identified as Alex Fernandez, a ladies’ tailor, who resided at Badlapur (East). Besides cash, he used to carry a sim card and photograph of his wife in the wallet, his family members had told the police. 

Based on the information, the police kept a track of the SIM card. On Monday, Pradeep Pal started using the stolen SIM card, he was arrested along with three others.

During interrogation, they revealed that they had accosted Fernandez on his way home at around 11 pm on July 17 and forcibly snatched his wallet.

When he tried to resist, they beat him and assaulted him with knives and later threw his body on the tracks.