HYDERABAD: The Sanghar police have remained clueless so far about the mysterious death of a 40-year-old woman, Daya Bheel, and mutilation of her body parts in Deputy Goth (village) of Sinjhoro taluka. The woman’s body with severed head was found last Tuesday (Dec 27) lying in mustard fields in the village by her family members and relatives during a search mounted after the mother of five had gone missing.

The area police got her post-mortem examination done at the Sinjhoro Taluka Hospital and they have picked up some sorcerer as well.

Apparently, her sensitive parts were also cut and then the body was thrown in the mustard field.

Her relatives did not bury the body for several hours after finding it. Representatives of various political parties visited her house and persuaded them to perform her last rites.

They believed that Daya Bheel was murdered in cold blood. Local police officials undertook to resolve the mystery and bring the culprits to justice, saying that the case would be investigated from all angles.

The decapitated body was found dumped in a Sinjhoro village on Tuesday

The police also used sniffer dogs to hunt down the culprits. The dogs led police to the houses of father and brother of the deceased woman.

The case was registered on the complaint of her son, Soomar Bheel, at the Sinjhoro police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

JIT formed

A joint investigation team (JIT), headed by the official in charge of CIA, Javed Jalbani, has been formed by the Shaheed Benazirabad DIG Yunus Chandio. The team comprises Inspector Ishaq Sangrasi, Sinjhoro SHO Inspector Jumman Khoso, Shahpur Chakar SHO Shabbir Hussain Dalwani. DIG Chandio is supervising the team headed by SSP Bashir Brohi.

As a result of initial investigation, six suspects, including the woman’s brother, have been taken into custody. Police have picked up some sorcerer for their alleged involvement in the murder. Police have learnt that her husband had also died in some matter involving sorcerers.

Soomar told local journalists that he had no enmity with anyone while Daya Bheel’s daughters claimed that their mother was murdered. Criticising police for picking up some of their relatives, including their maternal uncle, they urged police to lay hands on actual culprits.

Reports reaching here late Friday evening suggested that the police had asked Soomar and one of his sisters to join the investigation.

Bilawal takes notice

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from the chief minister on the incident.

He asked the CM to ensure speedy justice to the heirs.

Federal Minister and MNA from Sanghar Shazia Marri told the bereaved family that they should not feel alone in this tragedy as they would be provided full support from government.

Indian govt’s propaganda slated

Sindh Minorities Affairs Minister Gianchand Esrani visited the bereaved family members and handed over a cheque of Rs500,000 to them on Friday. CM’s Special Assistant Javed Nayab Leghari, Hindu Council leaders and others also visited them for condolences.

Mr Esrani expressed his satisfaction over investigation conducted so far. He said that it was a deplorable incident.

He said Hindus had full freedom in Pakistan. “Hindus are lucky that they are born in Pakistan,” he said, and added that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop badmouthing and better take care of his own country.

DIG Chandio said that police were investigating the case from every aspect. He said police were not taking any specific point to solve the mystery.

He said that 20 suspects had been questioned in detail but denied that some suspects were in custody as well.

Police have reportedly preserved DNA sample of the deceased and some suspects and intend to collect samples of more suspects.

The deceased woman had five children and four of them were married.

The Sanghar SSP has announced a Rs500,000 reward for anyone providing vital information to help police resolve the blind murder case and promised that his/her name would be kept confidential.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022