Vizhinjam: Police said that the murder of an elderly woman in the attic of a rented house in Mullur was planned. Police said the elderly woman was called home after preparations were made. The victim was identified as Shanthakumari (75) of Alummoodu, Panavila Thottam, Mullur. Vizhinjam police arrested Rafeeqa Beevi (50) from Vizhinjam township, her son Shafeek (23) and her boyfriend Al Amin (26) from Palakkad on the night of the incident.
According to police, the murder was committed to steal Shanthakumari’s gold jewelery. Part of the roof of the sheet-metal rented house had to be torn down to exhume the body, which was hidden in a narrow attic. Police said Rafeeqa Beevi, one of the accused, was on good terms with the slain elderly woman. The police also came to know that they had been preparing to carry out the operation a few days back.
Police said:
Shanthakumari was called to Rafeeqa Beevi’s rented house at 10.30 am on Friday. Shefiq and Al Amin entered the house and came from behind and tied the shawl around their necks. The part of the sari that Shantakumari was wearing was tucked into her mouth. Rafeeqa Beavis struck with a hammer on both sides of the head and on the scalp, confirming death. They then seized a pair of earrings, a ring, two bracelets and a necklace they were wearing.
Later as an attempt to hide the body. Al-Amin was dragged from the attic by a piece of the sari they were wearing, wrapped around his arms and neck. The other two became helpers. The police concluded that the cloth wiped with blood droplets may have been burnt. Then he reached Vizhinjam Junction in an autorickshaw and sold a piece of gold jewelery for Rs 45,000. He reached the city and booked a room.
He was arrested at Kazhakoottam while traveling in a private bus to Kozhikode at night. The post-mortem of the slain Shantakumari will take place today after a Kovid examination, police said. The body will be taken to his son Sanalkumar’s house Venganur Njaravila. Proceedings, including a forensic examination, were completed yesterday at the home where the incident took place.
Days before planning
Days ago, the police said that they were planning to kill the elderly woman and enter with gold jewelery. His youngest son Rafeeq was called home on the morning of the incident. Shanthakumari and Rafeeqa Beevi, who were alone, were on good terms. Sanal, Santhakumari’s son, said that Rafeeqa Beevi had borrowed Rs 10,000 from Shanthakumari and in return gave her a bed and utensils.
Police said the assassination plot was planned to exploit the connection. On the day of the incident, the landlord was informed that the house would be vacated and the goods were packed. The plan was to go to Palakkad with the proceeds from the sale of jewelery after the ceremony. However, the concealment of the body led to the arrest of the accused. Police said Rafeeqa Beevi always carried a ‘tool kit’ with a hammer.
Confusion, mystery, anxiety from the beginning …
Confusion and anxiety about who was killed … Finally, the arrival of the son in search of the mother dispelled the mystery and confusion of the incident. He also helped to trap the accused quickly. Sanalkumar, the son of the slain Shanthakumari, came to see his mother on the day of the incident as usual but could not be reached. The house was locked. The phone rang but was not picked up. I thought I went to visit the temple. At night Sanal came again from his residence in Venganur after being called by a relative.
It was reported that Rafeeqa Beevi, who lived nearby, was killed and her accomplices were missing. When the accused left the rented house, the landlord and his son went to the house and saw Machil bleeding.
Sanal told senior police officials who arrived at the scene that he could not see his mother and wanted to know who was dead. But police said it would take some time. After confirming that the woman was caught with the youths from Kazhakoottam, the police confirmed that it was Shanthakumari who died. If the investigation into Shanthakumari’s disappearance had been delayed, the accused would have escaped.
And barley earlier
Thiruvananthapuram: A mother and her son committed another murder a year ago after killing an elderly woman in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram. The death of a 14-year-old girl in December 2020 proved to be murder. According to police, the accused confessed to beheading to prevent the release of information about the torture.
On December 13, 2020, a 14 – year – old girl from Panangad was found dead inside her house near Kovalam.
Rafeeqa Beevi and her son Shefiq lived in a rented house near the girl’s house. Shafiq, who sexually abused the child, was shot in the head and strangled to death. The murder took place when the girl’s parents were not there to take care of her.
It was the defendants who led the way, including taking the child to the hospital. The investigation was diverted after the child’s parents testified that they suspected the murder. With this, the police took them into custody for days and questioned them. The accused pleaded guilty during interrogation led by Vizhinjam SHO Prajeesh Sasi.
.