The deceased had already told the police that he was receiving threatening calls, and mentioned the names of those who were making them.
Published Aug 16, 2023 | 10:44 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 16, 2023 | 10:44 PM
The Hyderabad City Police said on Wednesday, 16 August, that they had arrested four people accused of murdering Shaik Sayeed Bin Abdul Rahmaan Bawazeer (27) — a rowdy-sheeter who had taken to highlighting public issues on social media platforms after a stint in jail — in the Bandlaguda area of the city on 11 August.
The police registered a case at the Bandlaguda Police Station under Sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), read with Section 34, of the IPC in this regard.
The police apprehended Ahmed Bin Hajeb (20), Ahmed Saadi, Abdullah Saadi, and Mohammed Ayub Khan (20) on Wednesday. Two other people accused in the case — Saleh Saadi and Omer Saadi — are absconding.
While the initial motive ascribed to the murder was a homosexual relationship, going by rumours that spread in the area after the incident, the police later said the accused — most of them members of the same family — plotted and killed Bandlaguda Bawazeer (an alias of the deceased based on where he operated) because his videos appeared damaging to a local politician who was a member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
Hyderabad City South East Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ch Rupesh explained on Wednesday that Bawazeer continuously made remarks on the incomplete works in the Jalpally Municipality.
Abdullah Saadi, the third accused in the case who was among those arrested on Wednesday, is the chairman of the Jalpally Municipal Council.
The police said Abdullah Saadi is a member of the AIMIM, while the four other members of his family accused in the case were contractors who had executed projects in the Jalpally Municipality. That was why the Saadi family planned to murder him, said the DCP.
“Initially, a rumour in the area said the motive of the murder was that Shaik Bawazeer was in a homosexual relationship and was thus stabbed to death,” said the IPS officer. “However, we established during our investigation that the accused spread this rumour to cover up the true motive for the murder.”
Bawazeer had already reported in the Chandryangutta Police Station that he was receiving threatening calls, and mentioned the names of those who were making them.
The police confirmed to South First that Bandlaguda Bawazeer was involved in 27 cases registered in different police stations across Hyderabad and Rachakonda. Among these, three cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
In 2021, Bawazeer had become acquainted with Ahmed Bin Hajeb, the prime accused in the case, said the DCP, adding that Ahmed was also a rowdy-sheeter and had at least six cases registered against him across Hyderabad and Cyberabad.
“The two developed a homosexual bond in Chanchalguda Jail and continued the relationship after coming out of prison. Bawazeer allegedly established unnatural relations with him. He also forced Ahmed to bring his friends to him to satisfy his urges,” added DCP Rupesh. The latter acquiesced, he said.
Bawazeer began spreading videos about civic issues in the Jalpally Municipality area after coming out of prison in 2021.
A resident of Bandlaguda told South First, “Yes, most of us knew that there were criminal charges against him and that he had just been to prison, but his videos on the concerns about incomplete civic works were genuine.”
He added: “We did not understand why he changed his ways after coming out of prison. However, all the videos he used to share were on civic issues, and the local leaders developed grudges against him.”
Another resident from the same locality said, “Bawazeer was an activist who worked on general civic issues. If people did not notice his activism, why were hundreds attending his funeral? Because he had the courage to question leaders on local necessities.”
He added: “A proper road is mandatory, and the colonies become submerged if it rains. The issue of the Burhankhan Cheruvu is still in the news because its outlets are not being opened. These issues he raised.”
“His Facebook page still has videos of him raising civic concerns, and one must cross-check them before dismissing him as an activist. But now that he is dead, who will hold the authorities accountable?” asked another individual who did not want to be named.
The Saadi family was apprehensive that the videos and audio clips Bawazeer was sharing would affect their reputation and hold on power, and that is why they hatched a conspiracy to exploit his sexual orientation to kill him, said the DCP.
Omer Saadi is a relative of both Ahmed and Saleh Saadi, said DCP Rupesh. On 10 August, Omer took Ahmed to the Barkas area under the Chandrayangutta Police Station limits and introduced him to Saleh.
The Saadi family offered ₹13 lakh to Ahmed to kill Bawazeer, said the DCP, adding that they promised him more money if he could keep their name out of it.
The police said the Saadi family deputed a relative named Saud to entice Bawazeer into having unnatural sex with him.
Saud approached Bawazeer late at night on 10 August in his office, said the cops, adding that Ahmed stood outside, waiting to kill him.
As Bawazeer stepped out of his office, Ahmed threw chilli powder into his eyes and stabbed him to death with a knife, the police said.
