Cheenikuzhi: The gruesome murder of a four-member family has sent shock waves across the village of Cheenikuzhi in Idukki district. Mohammed Faisal (Shibu), his wife and two children were charred to death after his 79-year-old father, Hameed, set the house on fire, according to the police.
The victims Mohammed Faisal, his wife Sheeba, children Mehar and Asna were sleeping, when the house was set on fire. The doors were locked from outside to prevent any bid to escape.
A dispute over property is suspected to have culminated in the murder. Hameed owned 72 cents of land and gave a part of it to Faisal. But as he was not being looked after, Hameed asked his son to return the land. However, Faisal refused and they got into a dispute over this. Neighbours too said that there were problems between them for some time.
The police suspect the crime to be a premeditated one as Hameed had allegedly stocked up petrol for this. He drained out the water tank at the house and even at nearby houses to prevent anyone from dousing the fire. He also disconnected the water motor.
One child called neighbour desperately
Hameed waited till 1am for everyone to go to sleep. He locked all the doors from outside to prevent any attempt to escape. As the bed caught fire, Faisal and family woke up. Realising that the doors were locked from outside, one of the children telephoned their neighbour, Rahul, and pleaded for help.
By the time Rahul arrived, the fire had spread. Even then Hameed was seen hurling a petrol-filled bottle in to the house. Rahul had to break down the door to enter the house. After the fire was doused, the four were found dead in the bathroom where they had hid in a desperate bid to save themselves.
The villagers of Cheenikuzhi are still grappling to come to terms with the horrific reality that an entire family, including two children, were murdered in such a ghastly manner.
The villagers adored the children, Mehar and Asna.
