Kasargod: Accused arrested in Manjeshwar auto driver murder; Revenge motive suspected
Mangalore Today News Network
Kasargod, April 14, 2025: In a major breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested the prime accused in the brutal murder of auto rickshaw driver Muhammad Sharif (52), a native of Mulki. Sharif’s body was discovered in a well near Manjeshwar, days after he was reported missing.
The accused, identified as Abhishek Shetty (40) from Suratkal, was apprehended from Baikampady following a detailed investigation that included analysis of CCTV footage and other leads. According to police sources, Abhishek confessed to committing the crime alone, driven by personal enmity. He is currently undergoing further custodial interrogation.
Police said the motive for the murder stemmed from an incident about six months ago. Sharif, while driving his auto rickshaw, had a dispute with Abhishek—then employed as a school bus driver—over giving way on the road. The altercation reportedly led to Abhishek’s termination, for which he blamed Sharif and sought revenge.
On the night of April 9, Abhishek is said to have hired Sharif’s auto and lured him to a secluded area near Kunjathur Paduvu in Manjeshwar. There, he allegedly stabbed Sharif to death and disposed of the body by dumping it in a nearby well. He then fled the scene on a scooter and hid at a relative’s house in Talapady.
The investigation team reviewed footage from over 200 CCTV cameras and gathered inputs from local auto drivers and others. With support from Mangaluru police, they were able to trace and arrest the suspect within three days.
Police also revealed that Abhishek, who has a history of drug-related offenses, was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the murder. He had changed his hairstyle before the incident to avoid being recognized by Sharif.
Abhishek was reportedly familiar with the Kunjathur Paduvu area, having frequented it for drug dealings. Authorities are still searching for the knife used in the crime, and further investigation is ongoing.
The SIT, led by Manjeshwar SI Anoop Kumar, was formed under the supervision of ASP V Balakrishnan Nair and DySP V Sunil Kumar.
Sharif, who operated his auto from the Kolnad stand, was reported missing by his family on the night of April 9 at the Mulki police station. The next day, his abandoned auto was found near Kunjathur Paduvu. Bloodstains at the scene led to a search operation, culminating in the discovery of his body in a nearby well. A post-mortem conducted at Pariyaram Medical College confirmed that Sharif died due to homicide.