Howrah worker murdered in Ranchi, body reaches home

Howrah: Jagatballavpur in Howrah has been tense since Friday night as the body of Sheikh Muidul Ali, 36, a migrant worker murdered in Ranchi on his way to Bengal from Mumbai, reached his home here.

Ali, a zari designer in Mumbai’s Marad, ran out of money after the workshop where he was employed downed shutters.

He boarded a bus on May 22 for Odisha, from where he planned to board another vehicle for Howrah. He last spoke to his wife, Moslema Begum, after boarding the bus and said he would be home before Eid.

On Thursday, the family received a message from Jagatballavpur police station that said a body with multiple wounds had been found in Jagannathpur, near Jharkhand capital Ranchi.

“We contacted Jagatballavpur police when we did not hear from him (Ali) after May 22. We again contacted police after Eid. I was called to the police station on Thursday and shown a photograph of the murder victim. It was my husband! I have lodged a murder complaint. How will I survive now? How will I raise our five children?” Moslema said.

Police in Jharkhand sent Ali’s body to Howrah after autopsy. A senior officer at Jagatballavpur police station said: “We are in touch with Jharkhand cops. We are questioning five friends of Ali who also boarded the same bus. Jagannathpur police station (in Ranchi) has started a murder case under Section 302 IPC.”