Ranchi: A bullet-ridden and decomposed body of a land broker Jannat Hussain, 40, who also traded in horses, was recovered on Saturday from an abandoned stone quarry at Jhiri village in Ratu thana area, close to the Ranchi Municipal Corporation garbage landfill around 20km from district headquarters.

Police suspect Hussain, who was a resident of Jaipur locality in Kanke thana area, was abducted and killed on the night of June 1 by his nephew and business partner Gulzar Hussain and his aides.

"Uncle and nephew had a dispute over 14 cottah land at Jaipur (Kanke) itself . Gulzar, a dreaded criminal, used force to ensure land owners signed the agreement, while Jannat Hussain executed the sale. They had a dispute over payment," said Kanke OC Rajiv Ranjan said. He added Gulzar allegedly killed his uncle on the night of June 1 and dumped his body inside a narrow gap between two stones.

"Hussain's body was so badly sandwiched between stones that it took more than two hours to recover it today (Saturday). The body's recovery was made based on the revelations of Zakir Khan and Babloo Mirdha, two of Gulzar's associates that we had arrested a few hours after the murder," OC Ranjan said.

Gulzar, a history-sheeter and earlier arrested and prosecuted in several cases of ransom and robbery, is absconding.

On why Gulzar was the prime suspect, the OC said they checked call details of Hussain. On the night of June 1 Gulzar had called Hussain to a community graveyard. Allegedly, Gulzar was ready with a car along with Zakir, Babloo, now arrested, and two others, Golu Singh and Pawan Yadav. Hussain sensed foul play too late, when Gulzar and his men tried to push the former inside the car.