After Pachmarhi call, driver found dead in forest

BHOPAL: A 38-year-old driver of a SUV, who had left for Pachmarhi on May 26, was found dead at Rehti in Sehore district a day later. The incident came to light on Wednesday after his family lodged a missing person report at Ashoka Garden police station.
Jafar Khan, 38, a resident of Ashoka Garden, used to drive Innova and was working with a travel agent in Pul Bogda. He got a call from someone and was hired for Pachmarhi.As per the travel agent, he was called at Habibganj railway station to pick up passengers. He left for there, but no one could contact him after that, investigating officials said.
Initially, when family members could not contact Jafar on mobile, they thought there might be no mobile network in Pachmarhi. However, when few days passed, they went to the travel agent who could not tell them anything about his whereabouts.
It was only after lodging missing person report it came to light that the body was found in jungles close to roadside in Rehti. The SUV was missing. Besides, no mobile phone was recovered from the spot.
The police confirmed that he was strangled to death. The motive of crime, however, remains unclear. His brother levelled allegations against the travel agent.
The last rites were performed by the police at Rehti as there was no one to claim the body. Investigations are on and nothing could be ruled out at this stage, police added.