GUWAHATI: The Chennai Police have recovered the severed head and other missing body parts of a man from Assam whose torso was discovered inside a suitcase at Perambur Railway Station last week, unraveling a gruesome murder case that has led to the arrest of the victim’s wife and her associate.
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The victim, identified as 35-year-old Ameer Ali from Assam, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by his wife, Ruheema (30), and her associate, Ashraf Ali (36), according to police officials.
Investigators recovered Ameer Ali’s severed head from Kolavai Lake in Chengalpattu district, while his arms and legs were found in the Buckingham Canal near Teynampet. The torso had earlier been discovered inside an abandoned suitcase at Perambur Railway Station on June 5.
The case first came to light when Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel noticed a foul smell emanating from a blue suitcase left near a staircase on Platform 4 of the station. Upon opening it, officials found a decomposed male torso and alerted local police.
As there were no signs of violence at the railway station, investigators suspected that the murder had been committed elsewhere. A major breakthrough came when police examined a pair of trousers found on the body and traced a barcode on the garment to a clothing store in Chennai's T Nagar area. The purchase details helped investigators identify a mobile phone number linked to the suspects.
Subsequent analysis of call records, location data, CCTV footage, and app-based transport services revealed movements between T Nagar and Teynampet, narrowing the investigation.
Police also recovered medical waste bags and plastic covers near the suitcase. These items were traced to private hospitals in Chennai, leading investigators to Ruheema, who worked as a facilitator assisting patients from Assam and West Bengal seeking medical treatment in the city.
Further inquiries and surveillance footage eventually led police to a Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) housing complex in Teynampet, where the suspects were residing.
During interrogation, Ruheema and Ashraf allegedly confessed to the crime. According to investigators, the accused harboured resentment towards Ameer Ali over his alleged relationship with another woman. The couple had reportedly been involved in frequent domestic disputes, and Ruheema claimed she had faced physical abuse.
Police said the accused allegedly mixed sedatives into Ameer Ali’s food or milk on June 2. After he became unconscious, they allegedly killed him and dismembered the body inside their residence before disposing of the remains at different locations across Chennai and neighbouring Chengalpattu district.
The torso was packed inside a suitcase and abandoned at Perambur Railway Station, while the severed head was dumped in Kolavai Lake. The remaining body parts were allegedly thrown into the Buckingham Canal near the suspects’ residence.
Both accused have been arrested and remain in police custody as the investigation continues.