Nagpur: A dramatic turn of events unfolded in Mecosabagh, Nagpur, on Wednesday when the police intervened during the last rites of 52-year-old Pramod Francis, suspecting foul play in his death. Subsequent investigations confirmed that Francis had been murdered, and an attempt was made to disguise the crime as a run-over accident on railway tracks, a local media report said.
According to the report, acting on information from neighbours, the Jaripatka police arrested Sikandar Shafi Khan, alias Shaiku, a notorious bootlegger in North Nagpur with a history of 26 prior offenses. Shaiku, who had been banned from Nagpur City for a year in 2022, is now in custody. The police are also considering action against his wife, Shanti, who is implicated in the murder and allegedly pressured Francis’s family to hasten the burial.
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Thursday 09 Jan. 2025
Pramod Francis, a widower and known alcoholic, worked at Shaiku’s liquor den. On Tuesday, he was caught stealing four liquor bottles. In retaliation, Shaiku beat him with sticks and rained blows on him, resulting in Francis collapsing.
After the beating, Shaiku’s family allegedly moved Francis near the railway tracks. On Wednesday morning, Francis was found dead near the tracks with critical injuries. Shaiku’s family convinced Francis’s sister, Ranjana, to quickly perform the burial. Ranjana, who cared for Francis’s three children, agreed under dubious circumstances.
Witnesses who saw Shaiku assault Francis alerted senior police officials, prompting the Jaripatka police to intervene. Initially, Ranjana was reluctant to allow a post-mortem but was eventually persuaded by the police.
The body was sent to Mayo Hospital, where a post-mortem was performed on Thursday. The case, initially registered as an accidental death, has now been reclassified as murder. Shaiku has been arrested and is being held accountable for his actions. Shaiku allegedly operates an illegal liquor network throughout the city from his base in Mecosabagh. The police are now intensifying their scrutiny on Shaiku’s operations and his associates.
The arrest of Sikandar Shafi Khan has shed light on the extent of illegal activities in North Nagpur and the brutal measures taken by those involved to protect their interests. The swift action by the police, prompted by vigilant neighbours and witnesses, has ensured that justice is being pursued for Pramod Francis. The ongoing investigation is expected to uncover further details about the illegal liquor network and those complicit in Francis’s murder.
