| Ramban Police crack woman’s murder case | | Accused arrested from Telangana, assault weapon recovered | | Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Ramban, Mar 12: Police have solved the brutal murder of a young woman from Gool area of Ramban district with the arrest of the accused from Telangana following a swift and scientific investigation.
According to police, a missing report was lodged at Gool Police Station on March 3, 2026, at around 6:15 pm by Shah Nawaz regarding the disappearance of his sister Zahida Bano, daughter of Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, of Paratmulla Gool. “Acting promptly, a search team led by PSI Sunil Raskotra was constituted to trace the missing girl. At about 7:00 pm the same evening, PSI Raskotra received information that the body of an unknown girl was lying in the Manzimkunda forest area, nearly 1.5 kilometres from Gool town. Police rushed to the spot and discovered the body of a girl inside a dhok with her throat slit and without bottom garments,” the police said.
“Family members, including Shah Nawaz and Mohammad Shafi, were informed and they identified the deceased as Zahida Bano. On the basis of a written report from the spot, FIR No. 11/2026 under Sections 64 and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at Gool Police Station and investigation was taken up,” it said.
“Senior officers, including the Senior Superintendent of Police Ramban, Sub-Divisional Police Officer and SHO Gool, reached the crime scene. The District Forensic Mobile Unit from Ramban, along with a crime photographer, examined the site. A team of doctors from Sub-District Hospital Gool was also requisitioned to assist in the collection of biological evidence. The area was illuminated for thorough inspection and evidence was photographed, marked, packaged and preserved as per standard operating procedures,” it said, adding, “The body was later shifted to District Hospital Ramban for post-mortem examination by a board of doctors. Considering the gravity of the crime and public concern, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SDPO Gool was constituted to probe the case.”
“During further investigation on March 4, police recovered a blood-stained knife concealed beneath stones near the crime scene, believed to be the weapon used in the murder. The knife and other exhibits were seized in the presence of the Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses and were later sent to forensic laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar for examination,” the police said, adding, “Analysis of Call Detail Records and digital evidence revealed that the deceased had been in contact with one Mohammad Ashraf, son of Abdul Ghani, a resident of Saar in Mahore area of Reasi district. The suspect had gone absconding after the incident. Tracking of his digital footprints indicated that he had fled from the crime scene to Jammu and later moved outside the Union Territory.
Following technical surveillance and coordinated efforts, police traced the accused to Sangareddy district of Telangana. A team of SIT members was dispatched and, with assistance from Ramachandrapuram Police, the accused Mohammad Ashraf was arrested on the night of March 7. After obtaining transit remand from a local court, he was brought back to Gool on March 8 for further investigation.”
“During sustained interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to the crime. Preliminary investigation revealed that Ashraf, who is married and has two children, had been in a relationship with the victim for several years and had developed an obsession with her. Police said he suspected the victim of being unfaithful, which led to frequent disputes between them,” the police said.
“Investigators said the accused purchased a knife from Jammu and reached Gool on March 1. After surveying the location, he allegedly called the victim to Manzimkunda on March 2, where an argument broke out between them. During the altercation, he allegedly assaulted the victim and later killed her by slitting her throat with the knife before fleeing the area.”
“Police also recovered the victim’s mobile phone on the disclosure of the accused. The device has been seized and will be sent for forensic analysis,” the police said.
The SIT, headed by SDPO Gool Kuldeep Kumar and comprising SHO Gool Inspector Sameer Bhatt, Inspector Vicky Thapa, Prosecuting Officer Uttam Vikas and other officials, is continuing the investigation under the supervision of SSP Ramban Arun Gupta and Additional SP Ramban Mujeeb-ul-Rehman.
Police said efforts are underway to complete the investigation on a fast-track basis and file the chargesheet in the competent court at the earliest. |
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