Vijayawada butcher Mohammed Shafi held after Hindu woman’s body found dismembered in thermal plant canal
Police in Vijayawada have arrested mutton shop owner Mohammed Shafi in connection with the murder of Hindu woman Valluripalli Kalyani alias Durga, whose dismembered remains were found in a thermal power plant cooling canal.
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A Hindu woman, Valluripalli Kalyani alias Durga, was murdered and her body cut into several pieces before being dumped in a cooling canal near Vijayawada. Police arrested mutton shop owner Mohammed Shafi after a tattoo helped investigators identify the unidentified victim.
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Dismembered body found in cooling canal
The case came to light on September 18, when Ibrahimpatnam police received information about human remains floating in the cooling canal of the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station, also known as the Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station.
Police initially recovered a headless torso. Search operations involving police teams, drones and National Disaster Response Force personnel later led to the recovery of the victim’s head, legs and other body parts. One hand is yet to be traced.
The remains were sent for post-mortem examination as investigators began working to establish the identity of the woman.
Andhra Pradesh: Butcher Arrested for Murdering Woman, Dismembering Body
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) September 29, 2026
• 35 year old Mohd Shafi, who runs a mutton shop, has been arrested by Vijayawada Police.
• Police say Shafi and the victim, Kalyani, knew each other and were in a close personal relationship.
• Police… pic.twitter.com/ptW1i4s6tn
Tattoo helped identify Hindu woman
The victim was later identified as Valluripalli Kalyani, also known as Durga, aged around 29-30. She was originally from Tadinada in the Eluru/West Godavari region and had grown up in an NGO-run home at Gannavaram.
Kalyani had been married to a man from Mangalagiri but was living separately. She also had a young son.
Police circulated details of the unidentified woman and examined missing-person records from Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring areas. Her relatives eventually recognised a distinctive tattoo on her hand, reportedly resembling a peacock feather, helping establish her identity.
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Police arrest mutton shop owner Mohammed Shafi
Investigators subsequently focused on Mohammed Shafi, a mutton shop owner from Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada. Police said Shafi and Kalyani knew each other and had been in a close personal relationship.
According to police, Shafi had taken care of Kalyani’s son around four years ago because he wanted a boy. Investigators believe disputes over the child and money later created tensions between the two.
Call records reportedly showed frequent communication between Shafi and Kalyani.
CCTV traced woman’s last movements
Police said CCTV footage showed Kalyani entering Shafi’s house on the afternoon of September 17. Investigators reportedly found that Shafi had sent his wife and children away before her arrival.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (West Zone) N.S.V.K. Durga Rao and other police officials, Kalyani had gone to Shafi’s house following a dispute over money.
Police allege that an argument broke out after Kalyani sought money from Shafi. Reports have cited a demand of around 1 lakh on the day of the incident, while Shafi allegedly offered 15,000.
Woman allegedly killed with butcher’s knife
During the argument, Shafi attacked Kalyani with a knife similar to those used in his mutton shop and slit her throat.
He subsequently cut the body into several pieces to conceal her identity and dispose of the remains. Different reports have put the number of pieces at nine or ten.
Investigators also suspect that another person helped Shafi transport and dump the remains in the thermal plant canal. Reports have identified the alleged associate by different names, including Guruvulu, Shaik Abdulla and Durga Rao alias Abdullah.
Bloodstains and weapon recovered
Police reportedly found bloodstains at Shafi’s residence and recovered the knife allegedly used in the crime. Investigators also examined CCTV footage, call records and other forensic evidence as part of the investigation.
Shafi was arrested between September 27 and 29, according to reports. A murder case was registered following a complaint from Kalyani’s brother.
Investigation continues
Police are still investigating the exact circumstances of the killing, the alleged role of the associate and the recovery of the missing hand. The authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding Kalyani’s son and his custody.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against Shafi have not yet been tested in court.