Headless body of tractor driver found in Gopalganj, kin allege foul play

Patna: The beheaded body of a 60-year-old tractor driver was found in a sugarcane field near the Amwa-Vijaypur embankment at Chavar under Vishvambharpur police station area in Gopalganj district on Friday night.

His family members suspect foul play and alleged that the murder may be linked to a land dispute.The deceased was identified as Mohammad Mustafa, a resident of Sirisiya village under Kuchaykot police station area. According to police, locals first spotted an abandoned motorcycle near a sugarcane field, which aroused suspicion. During a search of the area, they found a headless body inside the field and immediately alerted the police.

The victim was later identified through belongings found near the body.A team from Vishvambharpur police station rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area, and began preliminary investigation. Given the brutal nature of the incident, a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was called. Forensic experts collected fingerprints and other evidence from the spot before the body was sent to Sadar hospital for post-mortem.

Mustafa’s wife said that he had executed a land deed on June 9, transferring nearly 10 acres of land to a neighbour. She claimed the family had opposed the sale and had even requested villagers not to purchase the land. Despite this, the property was registered in the neighbour’s name.She further stated that on the night of June 10, Mustafa received a phone call and left home, saying he was going to meet someone. When she tried contacting him around 8pm, his phone was found switched off.

After he did not return, the family began searching for him, but his whereabouts remained unknown until they were informed about the recovery of his body two days later.The family suspects that the buyer of the land may have killed Mustafa over non-payment of the agreed amount.However, Vishvambharpur SHO Mukendra Kumar said prima facie it appears that a wild animal may have gnawed off the victim’s head after the death. “All angles, including the family’s allegations, are being investigated. The exact cause of death will be clear after the post-mortem report,” he said.