Mangalore: Kerala Couple in Puttur Murdered for Gain - Police
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Oct 30: As reported in these columns earlier, police have nabbed two for mercilessly murdering Baby alias Thomas and his second wife Mary from Kerala in Undila of Kodimbala village of Puttur taluk on September 25.
The arrested are Mohammed Rafiq and Qamruddin alias Syed. They had been arrested in Somvarpet with the help of mobile phone tracking facility. They were produced before the media here on Tuesday October 30.
Elaborating the details to reporters at his office here on Tuesday, Dakshina Kannada district SP Abhishek Goyal said that the murderers had killed the couple for 1 kg of gold, silver and cash of Rs 1 crore which they had wrongly presumed to be at the house of the victims.
The nature of the injuries indicated that the duo was brutally killed using lethal objects and the victims sustained injuries on their neck.
Police found that after the heinous act, the murderers broke open the cupboard and suitcase to search for the gold and money. The case was registered at Kadaba police station under section 302 of IPC (punishment for murder).
The case was taken up by CPI Puttur rural and district crime branch police made various teams of police to speed up the investigation.
Goyal told reporters that Qamruddin admitting the crime during interrogation said that he came in contact with Thomas while the latter was building a house. Being a lorry driver Qamruddin supplied latterite stone and sand. He became close with Thomas and eyed on his cash and jewelry. Qamruddin’s friend Mohammed Rafiq also was in need of money and after making sure that cash and jewellery were kept at Thomas' house, the duo plotted to steal the money three months before the incident.
On September 25, they came to Thomas' house at around midnight. The duo woke up Thomas and told him that their motorcycle had broken down and requested him to drop them at their house in his car. While they reached Bollur Cross, the duo attacked Thomas and killed him and took away a gold chain, after which they returned to Thomas house. The dead body of Thomas was lying in the car during their return journey.
The duo also killed Mary and took away her earrings, and two mobile phones which were in the house.
Goyal also said that the accused sold the stolen gold ornaments and a motorcycle, knife, and mobile phones. He said the duo were first-time offenders.
He congratulated the team of police for successfully cracking the case. Puttur ASP M N Anucheth was also present at the press meet.