Man stabbed 30 times by friend of 35 years

A 65-year-old man was allegedly murdered by his long-time friend in Dongri on Wednesday evening. The deceased Qamar Ali Babai was found brutally stabbed to death at Hirani building, four buildings away from his residence at Mughal building. Police have recovered two knives and three alcohol bottles from the spot.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Babai had gone to meet his friend Saeed Dabestani, alias Akbar Irani (55), and it is alleged that Dabestani along with some of his accomplices stabbed the victim 25 to 30 times. The accused is currently absconding and police are yet to establish a motive behind the killing. Six months earlier Babai, a real estate agent, had allowed Dabestani to stay in a room that was owned by him against his family's wishes, as Dabestani's house was undergoing renovation. "I told my husband not to give him the room, because of his criminal background. But my husband refused to listen and insisted he was a good man," said Masooma, the victim's wife.

What happened
"My husband was sleeping in the afternoon when he received a telephone call, and he left immediately," said Masooma. She tried calling him a little while later to get some household errand done, but his phone was switched off. "Dabestani's wife Nazi then called me at around 6.30 pm and said something was wrong between Babai and Dabestani and requested me to go to Dabestani's room. She was in touch with Dabestani and kept calling me every five minutes. I was scared to go there and requested my husband's friend Abdul Rahim to accompany me."

When Rahim broke open the door, they found Babai lying in a pool of blood. "He was stabbed in the stomach, chest and throat. Preliminary investigations have revealed that more than three people are involved in the murder. The victim and Dabestani were friends for over 35 years. The motive behind the murder is still unclear," said Vijay Mukne, senior inspector at Dongri police station. Police have registered a case of murder against the accused and his accomplices under section 302 of IPC. u00a0