A suspected serial killer was taken into police custody on Friday, 2 September, after three security guards were murdered in separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar within 72 hours. The man was held in the Khajuri area in Bhopal.
The murders have sent shock waves across Sagar, and the entire district is on high alert.
Sources say that the arrested serial killer, identified as 19-year-old Shiv Prasad Dhurvey, has confessed to six murders so far and also said that he was inspired by the movie KGF and had plans to target policemen next.
“We have picked-up the accused in the early hours from Bhopal. There is high probability that he is the main person behind these incidents. Our investigations are underway,” Sagar Inspector General of Police Anurag told PTI.
The police on Thursday had issued a sketch of the suspected killer. A reward of Rs 30,000 – Rs 10,000 for each case – was offered for any information leading to the arrest of the culprit.
Commenting on the arrest, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, "It was a tough task because all were blind murders, but many congratulations to the Sagar police. The serial killer had brought with him the mobile phone of one of the victims. The police tracked the mobile and reached Bhopal. They caught him in Bhopal. He had earlier killed a watchman in Bhopal as well which he has confessed to. His name as per Aadhaar card is Shiv Prasad, a resident under Kesli police station limits of Sagar district. Further probe is on."
District on High Alert
Stating that the whole Sagar district police is on high alert, the home minister said, "The security has been beefed up. Security guards have also been put on high alert, the investigation suggests that this could be the work of one man but until the killer is arrested anything we say will only create more confusion."
The Incidents
Security guard Kalyan Lodhi, who was in his 50s and deployed at a factory, was killed on the intervening night of 28-29 August under the Cantt police station limits. His head was found smashed with a hammer.
Shambhu Narayan Dube (60), who was on guard duty at an arts and commerce college, was killed on the intervening night of 29-30 August under Civil Lines police station limits. His head was found smashed with a stone.
In the third incident, watchman Mangal Ahirwar, who guarded a house in Moti Nagar area, was killed on the intervening night of August 30-31 after being hit with a stick.
In a fourth incident, the accused also allegedly killed Sonu Verma, the watchman of Gora Ji Marble and Tiles, on Friday, in Khajuri, Bhopal, Sagar DSP Vijay Khatri said.
The accused was seen killing Verma in the CCTV footage.
According to the police, the accused has confessed to killing Sonu Verma, he said.
SP Tarun Nayak said the killings in Cantt and Civil Lines police station areas were similar in nature and appeared to have been executed by the same person.
'Inspired by KGF, Wanted To Be Famous': What We Know About the Accused
Shiv Prasad is a resident of Kesli in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.
Prasad has studied till Class 8 and manages to speak English. He had earlier worked in Goa for some time.
According to sources, the accused said that he was inspired by the film KGF and had plans to target policemen in the future. He said that he wanted to become famous by killing watchmen.
Suspected serial killer Shiv Prasad
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
During preliminary inquiry Dhurvey said that he had planned to raise funds and become a gangster. The accused also said that he was inspired by the 'Rocky Bhai' character of the film KGF.
While there are claims of him being mentally unstable, a confirmation from the police over the same is yet awaited.
In a purported CCTV footage that has surfaced, the accused is seen killing the sleeping watchman in Bhopal. After killing the watchman, the accused was sitting near the dead body.
Prima facie, the motive is being seen by the police to steal mobile phones and murder people for money.
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