A violent clash following a drunken argument resulted in the murder of a migrant laborer near a railway overbridge in the Hindaun City area of Karauli district. The local police acted swiftly after discovering the crime and tracked down the perpetrator within 24 hours of the incident taking place. Superintendent of Police Lokesh Sonwal disclosed the breakthrough at the Nai Mandi police station, explaining how modern surveillance and coordinated ground inquiry helped crack the case without delay.
Acquaintance Formed in Gujarat Led to Fatal Encounter
The individual taken into custody has been identified as Khem Singh Jatav, who is also known by the alias Khemu, a resident of Jatav Basti situated in Banshi Paharpur within the Roodawal police circle. The deceased victim was identified as 40-year-old Keshu Mali, son of Laxman Mali, hailing from Utaliya village in the Dholka police jurisdiction of Ahmedabad district in Gujarat. The two men had become acquainted roughly two months earlier while in Gujarat. On Friday night, they sat together near a liquor shop beside the railway overbridge to drink when a disagreement flared up between them. In the heat of the quarrel, the attacker picked up a stone lying nearby and smashed it onto Keshu's head. The massive blunt force trauma caused the victim to collapse motionlessly on the ground, following which the assailant escaped from the scene.
Family Survival Through Daily Street Vending
Keshu Mali earned his livelihood in Hindaun by selling household plastic tubs and buckets across different neighborhoods. His earnings supported his family, with his wife and two children residing in Jaipur, while he stayed in Hindaun alongside fellow laborers for work. On Friday evening, around 6:30 PM, he left his residence as usual but failed to return late into the night. His prolonged absence triggered alarm among his peers and relatives, prompting them to initiate a frantic search across potential locations in the vicinity.
Discovery of Bloodied Body and Murder Case Registration
During their search, family members reached the liquor outlet operating beneath the railway overbridge. Behind the shop, in a secluded and deserted patch of land, they found Keshu's lifeless body covered in blood. The family immediately informed the Nai Mandi police station. Responding personnel secured the crime spot and transported the body to the mortuary at the district hospital for post-mortem examination, noting visible severe head injuries caused by a stone. Following this discovery, the victim's elder brother, Suresh Mali, lodged a formal murder complaint against an unidentified person at the Nai Mandi police station on Saturday.
Extensive Footage Review Yields Breakthrough Arrest
Under the leadership of Station House Officer Naresh Poshwal, a dedicated investigative team examined over 100 CCTV camera recordings installed around the crime location and nearby thoroughfares. Analysis of the visual evidence revealed footage where the suspect, Khem Singh, was seen clad in black attire accompanying the victim. Armed with this critical lead, investigators established the suspect's identity and launched an active search operation, ultimately arresting him directly from Hindaun. During interrogation, he admitted to the physical confrontation, confirming that an escalated dispute during their drinking session led him to deliver the fatal blow before fleeing.
