Mother daughter duo murder mystery remains unsolved

A city based scrap merchant's wife Raziya and daughter Fathima Zuha were stabbed to death in their house at Panjimogaru in Kavoor police station limits on Tuesday. The final rites were carried out late at night on Tuesday.

The entire nighbourhood is shell-shocked after the incident. Victoria English Medium School, Ladyhill, where Fathima Zuha was a student on Wednesday mourned her unexpected death and declared a holiday.

Although the police have interrogated several neighbours and close relatives and friends of the victim in the past 24 hours, they could not make headway into the probe.

After closely examining the circumstances related to the murder, the police have suspected the involvement of the persons known to the family in the brutal crime.

“Our suspicion is that some known to the victims' family might have involved in the crime and we are making efforts to trace the accused,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Muthuraya.

“As there was no trace of forcible entry into the house, we cannot rule out the involvement of the known persons of the family. Moreover the relatives of the victims themselves have stated that Raziya never used to open the door without confirming who pressed the door-bell” said Inspector Valentine D'Souza who is heading the teams constituted to probe into the case.

According to Hameed's cousin Abdul Khader, Raziya was a very cautious lady and would not open the door unless she confirmed the identity of the person knocking the door. “Even if it was her husband pressing the calling bell, she would first confirm that it was him and then open the door,” he said.

However, there is a possibility of the accused entering when the main door was open, says Khader.

Hameed's brother Razak said it was difficult to suspect any person as his brother did not have any enemies in the family or outside. The jewellery worn by Raziya and cash in the house were intact, he said adding that the lack of witnesses have complicated the issue.

The incident had occurred when Raziya was in the house along with Fathima Zuha, who was down with fever. Raziya's husband, P. Hameed had left the house around 11 a.m. to meet his friend at the latter's shop in Kottara Chowki. As Hameed was speaking with his friend he received a call from his neighbour about the murder.

Among Raziya's three children elder son Ziad (10) had gone to school while the youngest son Zahid (1) was in the house. Zahid was found crying in the house when the police entered.

The house of scrap merchant P Hameed, situated at Panjimogaru, where his wife and daughter were murdered on Tuesday, June 28.