The victims are identified as Haseena, and her children Afnan, Ainaz, and Aseem. Haseena's husband is employed in Saudi Arabia.
Published Nov 12, 2023 | 6:44 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 12, 2023 | 6:49 PM
Four people have been brutally hacked to death in Hampankatte in Udupi on Sunday morning. (supplied)
In a horrifying incident that unfolded on Sunday, 12 November, four people — a mother and her three children — were found brutally hacked to death in Hampankatte of Kemmannu village in Udupi, falling under the jurisdiction of the Malpe Police Station.
The unknown assailant, in a ruthless attack, forcibly entered the residence and engaged in a verbal altercation with the woman, identified as Haseena (46).
Preliminary reports suggested that he proceeded to stab Haseena and her children — Afnan (23) and Ainaz (21) — to death. Aseem (12), who heard the screams while playing outside, rushed into the house only to meet the same tragic fate at the hands of the assailant.
Additionally, the woman’s mother-in-law was targeted and is currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Haseena’s spouse Noor Mohammed is currently employed in a Gulf country.
As soon as the news about the horrifying murder spread, Udupi Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun Kumar rushed to the spot. Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna and other local Muslim leaders also flocked to the location.
However, no complaint has been registered with regard to the murders. The police have launched an investigation and forensic teams are taking stock of the incident.
According to the police, an auto-rickshaw driver shared crucial information about the suspect with the police, who claimed that he dropped the assailant off at the victim’s residence from Santhekatte early morning on Sunday.
The unidentified assailant executed the ruthless attack by forcibly entering the residence and initiating a verbal altercation with Haseena between 8.30 am to 9 am.
According to the police: “The assailant escalated the violence by stabbing Haseena and her children Afnan and Ainaz to death. Tragically, Aseem, who rushed into the house upon hearing the distressing screams while playing outside, met the same grim fate at the hands of the assailant.”
The cops added: “The woman’s mother-in-law was also targeted and is currently in critical condition, receiving medical attention at a local hospital. The commotion at the victims’ residence alerted the neighbours, prompting a girl to visit there upon hearing the distressing cries. The assailant threatened the girl before hastily fleeing the scene.”
The police also said: “Afnan was employed with Air India. Aninas was pursuing a course in a logistics institute. Aseem was a Standard 8 student. Another male sibling, who was not present during the attack, works for IndiGo Airlines. Haseena’s husband Noor Muhammad is employed in Saudi Arabia.”
Kumar told reporters on Sunday: “Four people have been killed and one person was injured in the attack. We have inspected the house. We did not find any evidence related to theft.”
The SP added: “As soon as the incident came to my notice, I rushed to the spot. We have collected the primary information. We are yet to ascertain the motive behind the crime. The probe will be carried out in all the possible angles.”
According to the police, a significant clue emerged from the account of an auto-rickshaw driver.
Shyam Nejar, who apparently transported the assailant to the crime scene from Santhekatte, provided crucial details that could aid investigators in identifying the suspect.
Narrating the sequence of events, Shyam Nejar told reporters, “While dropping him at the residence, I observed that he wore a mask, had a bald head, and carried a black backpack. Surprisingly, he reappeared at the Santhekatte auto-rickshaw stand within just 15 minutes of the initial drop-off.”
He added: “Expressing surprise, I informed him that if he was to return so promptly, I would have waited for him there. Following our brief exchange, he hastily boarded another auto, aiming to leave as quickly as possible.That auto-rickshaw driver transported him to Karavali Bypass. Notably, the individual spoke in Kannada with a discernible Bengaluru accent during these interactions.”
This revelation added a significant dimension to the ongoing investigation, shedding light on the appearance and movements of the suspect involved in this heinous crime.
