Bareilly: Mohammad Arman kills a 70-year-old Siyaram Srivastava before visiting a ‘religious place’, claims a ‘jinn’ ordered the murder

Bareilly Police have solved the murder of 70-year-old Siyaram Srivastava by arresting Mohammad Arman, who claimed he killed the elderly man because a
Mohammad Arman killed 70-year-old Siyaram Srivastava (Image via News18)

In a chilling case that has shocked Uttar Pradesh, Bareilly Police have solved the brutal murder of a 70-year-old businessman whose body was found with multiple stab wounds after he went out for his routine morning walk. The accused, a 19-year-old identified as Mohammad Arman, told investigators that he killed the victim because a “jinn” had ordered him to spill blood. Police, however, say the accused is mentally ill and that the investigation is based on evidence rather than his supernatural claims.

Businessman found murdered during morning walk

The victim, Siyaram Srivastava, left his home on the morning of July 24 for his daily walk near the Dhauratanda Highway in Bareilly’s Bhojipura area. When he failed to return, his body was discovered along the roadside bearing multiple stab injuries. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that he had suffered more than a dozen wounds inflicted by a sharp object.

The gruesome murder sent shockwaves through the locality. Initially, Srivastava’s family suspected a long-running land dispute and accused neighbours Lalaram and his sons of involvement. Based on the complaint, police registered a case and began their investigation.

CCTV Footage Exposed the Real Killer

Under the supervision of Bareilly Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya, investigators expanded the probe after finding no evidence linking the neighbours to the crime. Teams from the Special Operations Group (SOG), local police, and the Crime Branch examined CCTV footage and technical surveillance from the area.

The investigation eventually led police to 19-year-old Mohammad Arman, whose movements and vehicle matched evidence collected from the crime scene. He was subsequently taken into custody.

Accused claimed a ‘Jinn’ ordered the murder

During interrogation, Arman claimed that he had been hearing the voice of a “jinn” for a long time. According to police, he told investigators that the entity repeatedly demanded blood and instructed him to kill the first person he encountered.

Police said Arman first rammed his car into Srivastava before attacking him repeatedly with a sharp weapon, inflicting fatal injuries. Officers stressed that these statements are part of the accused’s interrogation and are not being treated as factual evidence.

Police say accused was mentally ill

Investigators said Arman has a history of mental illness and was undergoing treatment. According to the police, his claims about supernatural voices appear to be linked to his psychological condition. Officials also said he had a history of substance abuse, and investigators are examining whether his mental health and addiction played a role in the crime.

Visited Religious Place Before Confessing to Father

Police said that after the murder, Arman visited a religious place and lit incense sticks, believing he had fulfilled the “jinn’s” demand for blood. He then returned home and confessed the crime to his father, Imtiaz Ahmad.

Instead of informing the police, Imtiaz attempted to help his son destroy evidence and conceal the crime.

Father arrested for destroying evidence

Police have arrested Imtiaz Ahmad on charges of assisting his son in covering up the murder. During the investigation, officers recovered the weapon used in the attack as well as the car that investigators say was used to hit the victim before the fatal assault.

Probe continues

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that all aspects of the case, including the accused’s medical history, mental health records, and forensic evidence, are being examined. Officials reiterated that the prosecution will rely on scientific evidence, witness testimony, and legal procedure, while the accused’s claims of acting under the instructions of a “jinn” are being evaluated only in the context of his mental condition.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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