Cartoonist Irfan was murdered

NEW DELHI, MARCH 13: The body of Outlook cartoonist Irfan Hussain was found on Saturday morning, around a kilometre away from where he ha...

NEW DELHI, MARCH 13: The body of Outlook cartoonist Irfan Hussain was found on Saturday morning, around a kilometre away from where he had made his last call home on Monday night.

His body, which was in a decomposed state, lay face up, with the hands and feet tied just below the decline of the Gazipur highway in East Delhi. It was spotted by beat constable Gopal Sharma at 11 am as he was scouring the area after he had specifically been directed to do so, he said. The body had 28 wounds, including a slit in the throat and other wounds on on his chest, abdomen and neck.

Irfan was last seen by his friend Major Srinivasan whom he dropped at his residence in Lakshmibai Nagar near INA market at 10.15 pm. They had left the Press Club together on Monday night. He made a call to his wife on his mobile phone at 10.45 pm from somewhere near Mayur Vihar saying he would be home in 15 minutes. Mayur Vihar is a two-to-three minute drive from the place where he was found dead.

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According to DCP East BalajiSrivastava, the body was most likely to have been left at the spot on Friday night. However, forensic personnel said that it must have been lying there for more than 48 hours. The motive for the brutal murder remains unknown. Police have ruled out extortion. The only object found on his body was a match box in his shirt pocket. The pockets of his black jeans were empty and his wallet was missing. His car, his mobile phone and any other objects he must have carried remain untraced.

Police protection

Three days after Irfan Hussain went missing, there was a phonecall in Paresh Nath’s residence. The National Herald cartoonist’s wife answered the call. “Irfan Hussain ko to upar pahunchadiya hai,” the caller said. “Doosra number Sudhir Tailang ka hai aur phir tumhare pati ki bari hai.” The caller identified himself as a Shiv Sainik. Hindustan Times cartoonist Tailang was provided with police protection immediately. The Shiv Sena on their part have denied any involvement in themurder.