Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada Police have arrested 35-year-old Mohd Shafi, a butcher who runs a small mutton shop in Bhavanipuram, in connection with the murder of 28-year-old Kalyani alias Durga. Her body parts were recovered from the VTPS cooling canal under Ibrahimpatnam police station limits on September 18.
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh: A woman was allegedly murdered, and her body was dismembered before being dumped in a cooling canal at Ibrahimpatnam in Vijayawada.
— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2026
Vijayawada West, ACP Durga Rao says, "The case came to light after body parts were found in the cooling canal near the… pic.twitter.com/eGynOkWNya
Police identify woman through tattoo
The case came to light after police found a headless torso near the VTPS cooling canal. Ibrahimpatnam police registered a murder case and began searching the area. The next day, teams with drones and NDRF personnel searched the canal and recovered the woman’s head, legs and other body parts. One hand remained missing. The remains were sent for post-mortem.
Police checked missing-person records from Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring Telangana districts of Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Khammam. Kalyani was identified after details of the unidentified body were shared on social media. Her brother and relatives recognised a tattoo on her hand and other details.
West Zone ACP N.S.V.K. Durga Rao said Kalyani was a 28-year-old semi-orphan from Chinna Tatinada village in West Godavari district. She spent her childhood at an NGO home in Gannavaram before marrying a man from Mangalagiri in Guntur district. The couple had a son, but family problems later led to their separation, and Kalyani began living alone.
Dispute over money and child
Police said Kalyani was in a relationship with Shafi, the butcher from Bhavanipuram. On September 17, she went to his house after he called her there. His wife and children had been sent to Guntur.
A dispute broke out between Kalyani and Shafi over money and the child who was in his family’s care. Police said Kalyani had been asking Shafi for money. During the argument, Shafi attacked Kalyani with a knife and slit her throat, police said. He then cut her body into several pieces and moved the remains from the house.
Body dumped in cooling canal
Police said the body parts were taken to the cooling canal in the Gollapudi area and dumped there. CCTV footage, call data, technical investigation and other evidence helped investigators trace Shafi. The knife used in the murder was also recovered.
Police also questioned Guruvulu, who worked at Shafi’s mutton shop, over his suspected role in moving the body. Another person, Abdullah Durga Rao, described as Shafi’s friend and an associate in the case, was reported to be absconding. Police said efforts were underway to find him.
Kalyani’s son is currently with Shafi’s wife. Authorities are seeking legal advice on his custody and may hand him over to the ICDS department.
Ibrahimpatnam Circle Inspector Subrahmanyam said media support in sharing information about the unidentified woman helped Kalyani’s relatives recognise her and assisted police in solving the case. The investigation is continuing to establish the role of everyone involved.
