Executive Summary
- Authorities are searching for alleged liquor mafia leader Shiva Yadav following a double murder.
- Two victims were killed and one injured after being kidnapped for ransom.
- Police have arrested two accomplices who reportedly confessed to the crime.
- The bodies were recovered in separate locations in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Law enforcement authorities in Surat, Gujarat, have launched an extensive manhunt for Shiva Yadav, also known as Shiva Takla, following the kidnapping of three individuals and the subsequent murder of two of the victims. The police have arrested two alleged accomplices, identified as Asif Moti Sheikh and Jalam, alias Jagdish Nanuram Kalal, who have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the violent scheme.
According to the police investigation, the incident began on a Monday night when the three victims—Shoiab Firoz Sheikh, Nazim (alias Bhanja Sadiq), and Irshad (alias Kalia Qadar Sayed)—were abducted. Senior police officer Kanan Desai stated that on the night of December 1, Shoaib’s mother received a ransom demand for Rs 100,000, which was allegedly owed to the perpetrators. The demand was later reduced to Rs 20,000. Despite the family paying the requested amount, the victims were not released, prompting the filing of a missing person report.
Investigators subsequently discovered Shoiab’s body in the Godadara area, exhibiting severe injuries consistent with a sharp weapon. Through inter-state coordination, Surat Police were notified by authorities in neighboring Maharashtra that an unidentified body had been found near a government hospital in Nandurbar. This victim was later identified as Nazim. The third victim, Irshad, survived the ordeal and is currently undergoing medical treatment. Police records indicate that Shoiab had a prior criminal history involving mobile phone snatching and had served time under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Act.
Investigative Outlook
The ongoing search for Shiva Yadav, a figure described by authorities as an infamous criminal involved in the liquor mafia, underscores the challenges of cross-border law enforcement coordination between Gujarat and Maharashtra. The swift identification of the bodies and the arrest of two accomplices suggest that forensic evidence and suspect interrogation are driving the current trajectory of the case. Authorities are likely focusing on tracking the suspect’s movements to prevent further flight, given his established criminal network. It is important to note that all individuals, including Yadav and the arrested suspects, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
