Horror in Udupi: Did the assailant travel from Bengaluru?

Team Udayavani, Nov 12, 2023, 6:29 PM IST

Udupi: As the city woke to celebrate Diwali, a pall of darkness descended upon Nejar’s Tripti Nagar with the horrifying murder of four members of a Muslim family. The victims identified as Hasina (46) and her children Afnan (23), Aynaz (21), and Asim (12) were brutally stabbed to death, sending shockwaves through the Udupi district. Another family member is currently hospitalized with injuries.

Udupi Superintendent of Police, Dr. Arun, addressing the media, revealed that the police are conducting a high-level investigation to ascertain the motive behind the gruesome murders. The preliminary investigation has yielded crucial evidence, and the police are diligently working to solve the case.

“Hasina and her three children have been murdered. We are investigating the murders. We have not found any evidence of theft of any property inside the house. We received the information at 10 o’clock in the morning today… We have gathered the primary information… All angles are being investigated,” he said.

According to statements from a rickshaw driver in Santhekatte, the accused, described as a stout man around 45 years old, hired the rickshaw from Santhekatte to reach Tripti Nagar. He was wearing a brown color shirt and a white mask. The suspect is believed to be familiar with the area, indicating a possible acquaintance with the victims. After about 15 minutes after the incident, he reportedly reached Santhekatte on a two-wheeler and hailed an autorickshaw in a hurry.

The police are exploring leads suggesting that the assailant may speak in the Kannada style of the Bengaluru area.

MLA Yashpal Survarna, who visited the crime scene, expressed his condolences and mentioned that the police are actively pursuing leads related to potential family issues. He assured that the police, are working swiftly to apprehend the suspect. He urged the community to cooperate with the investigation.

It is gathered that Afnan, one of the victims, had recently arrived in Udupi on vacation from her job at Air India in Bengaluru. Noor Muhammad, the husband of Hasina is employed in Saudi Arabia. The assailant reportedly entered the house, engaged in a verbal altercation, and proceeded to stab Hasina, Afnan, Aynaz, and Asim. The police suspect that the murders may have been driven by personal animosity, as the assailant allegedly threatened a neighbor who came to the scene.

The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Malpe police station, prompting a thorough investigation with four police teams analyzing CCTV footage to aid in identifying and capturing the assailant.