Trader 'killed for Rs1m' as debt turns deadly

A debt dispute allegedly ended in the killing of a 35-year-old Hindu trader whose bullet-riddled body was found in his abandoned car hours after he went missing. The police claimed that one of his close acquaintances hired a hitman to eliminate him over repayment of millions of rupees. Hyderabad DIG Tariq Razzak Dharejo told a press conference at police headquarters that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the murder of Naresh Kumar, whose body was recovered from his car near the Christian graveyard in Gujrati Muhalla, within the jurisdiction of Tando Yousuf police station. The suspects, Muhammad Waqas Mughal and Asad Ali Damach, were produced before the media with their faces covered. Quoting lead investigator Inspector Naek Muhammad Khoso, the DIG alleged that Mughal had hired Damach to kill Kumar for Rs1 million. Police said Rs200,000 was paid in advance and another Rs40,000 after the killing, while the remaining amount was yet to be paid. Mughal's friend Rana Shoaib, who allegedly connived in the murder, remains at large, according to police. Kumar's father said his son left their Hussainabad residence around 2pm on Friday, telling the family that he was heading towards the SITE area. His phone was switched off about three hours later. After unsuccessfully trying to reach him for around two hours, Mal and three nephews began searching for him. A tracking device installed in Kumar's car helped locate the vehicle in Tando Yousuf. They then approached Tando Yousuf police, who had already learned about a body found inside an abandoned car. Police alleged that Mughal had contacted Kumar and called him to meet in Tandojam, assuring him that the outstanding debt would be repaid.