2 arrested for murdering husband, wife in South Kashmir

Srinagar July 10: Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have solved double murder of husband and wife whose bodies were found in Behibagh village of Kulgam district in South Kashmir.

Official sources said that Kulgam police acting on a complaint solved a double murder case and arrested two persons in this connection.

A villager Mohd Akbar Shah of Behibagh had lodged a written complaint in police station Kulgam complaining that his daughter was murdered by his husband and 2 others.

Shah’s daughter Mst Jameela was married to Sheraz Ahmed Shah S/o Gh. Qadir R/o Behibagh and had a four year old son Yasir who informed his grandfather about the incident that took place at his home.

The complainant had also mentioned that his grand son Yawar Sajad came to his residence and stated that his mother has been beaten up by his father Sheraz Ahmed and other two Bilal and Ishtan (Md Ishaq) present during the night hours in their home. Later on took her to hospital.

The complainant on hearing on hearing the news immediately left towards the residence of his son in law namely Sheraz Ahmed Shah to look after his daughter but he was told by the her in-laws that she was ill and has gone to hospital, the sources added.

As per the complaint Shah met Bilal Ahmed Shah brother of his son in law Sheraz Ahmed Shah and his wife, but both of them stated that probably she has been taken to hospital by her husband as if they were ignorant of the facts.

The complainant suspected some foul play and entered into the house of his daughter and where he found heavy blood/blood stains on the floor, bedding as well as on the walls.

“On seeing the condition of the room I immediately came out and left towards hospital dispensary at Behibagh, but no one had reported to the said dispensary during night hours” shah narrated in his complaint, adding he along with his family members rushed to the other hospital to find said Jameela but no clue struck out, as no such patient had been admitted in any hospital.

The complainant father suspected that Sheraz Ahmed Shah S/o Gh. Qadir shah, Bilal and Istain (Md Ishaq) have killed his daughter Jameela and have absconded from the village along with the dead body in order to dispose off the dead body to some unknown destination.

After going through the complaint police registered a case FIR No. 169/09 U/S 302, 34 RPC in police station Kulgam and investigation were taken up.

During the course of investigation police party of police station Kulgam rushed to the spot and the undersigned along with the ASP Kulgam and DySP DAR Kulgam also rushed to the place of occurrence. The search for the dead body was conducted, but could not succeed to recover the same.

Thereafter FSL teams of district Anantnag and Srinagar were called. The FSL teams on reaching the spot collected/ examined the blood stains, finger prints on the playing cards lying in room and currency note of one thousand rupees and human hair from the place of occurrence and some sharp cut marks have been found on the beddings, indicating that the victim has been hit by some sharp objects. The same stands seized in the presence of FSL for Expert Opinion. The scene of occurrence was examined minutely and a detailed site plan indicating all the surroundings was prepared and whole scene of occurrence was photographed and video graphed. The services of tracker Dog were also utilized but nothing fruitful came fore. A temporary police camp was also established by the investigation team near the place of occurrence.

During investigation the dead body of Mst. Jameela W/o Sheraz Ahmed shah was traced out from almost 1 Km distance from the place of occurrence in the orchards of one Abdul Rashid of village Hanjan and got photographed/ video graphed on spot and service of FSL team were again utilized and the dead body was found in concealed with the dry shrubs and maggots were grown in the dead body. The dead body was found tied with the rope in the neck having some visible injuries at different parts of the body. The dead body was taken in to possession for post mortem to be conducted by a team of doctors constituted for the said purpose and other legal formalities and after completion of the legal formalities the dead body was handed over to her NOK’s for last rites.

In view of the seriousness and public importance of the case a special investigation team headed by Dy. SP Md. Yousuf Mir, Dy. SP DAR Kulgam was constituted on 03.07.2009.

During the course of investigation statement of one child eyewitness Yawar S/o Sheraz 4 years was video recorded in which he revealed that on the date of occurrence his father Sheraz along with two other persons namely Bilal and Ishtan (Md. Ishaq) were playing play cards in his house and in the mean time some quarrel took place between them in which his mother got injured who was taken to hospital by his father during night hours.

During further course of investigation statements of some persons were recorded U/S 161A CrPC and also Bilal Ahmed Shah S/o Gh. Qadir Shah and Md. Ishaq Shah S/o Dilawar Ahmed Shah both residents of Behibagh, and some other persons were called by the special investigation team and questioned in which Bilal Ahmed and Md. Ishaq have put forth contradictory stands about their presence in the village Behibagh on the day of occurrence. In light of the call data records, and statement of witness and other relevant factors their presence in the village on the day of occurrence was established.

In light of the statement of the above named child and in view of the continuous disappearance of Sheraz Ahmed just from the data of occurrence, it was suspected that Sheraz might have absconded to evade his arrest after commission of crime. However, on 09.07.2009 his dead body too was found in concealed under dry hay dumped in the abandoned cow shed belonging to Fayaz Ahmad shah and Bilal Ahmed Shah both sons of Late Md. Yousuf Shah R/o Behibagh. The dead body was found in partially mutilated and defaced condition on which maggots were also grown. The dead body got photo/Video graphed and was taken into possession by utilizing services of FSL team. On examination of the body one sharp wound was found head of the dead body suspected to be inflicted by some sharp edged weapon. Thereafter postmortem of the body was conducted by the team of doctors and necessary samples were taken by the FSL Experts/ doctors for further examination. After completing legal formalities the dead body was handed over to the legal hires for last rites.

Two persons namely Bilal Ahmed Shah S/o Gh. Qadir and Mohd Ishaq Shah S/o Dilawar Ahmed Shah both residents of Behibagh, have been arrested in the instant case and the investigation of the case is in progress. (NAK)