Man held for wife’s murder eight years after incident

Kollam: The Crime Branch has arrested a man over the mysterious death of his wife eight years ago.

According to the Crime Branch, Abdul Shihab, 41, of Thevalakkara in Sasthamcottah murdered his wife Shajeera, 30, daughter of Shajahan and Nazeera of Valakkode in Punalur, by pushing her into a water body.

A team led by Crime Branch Superintendent of Police N Rajan arrested Shihab following an investigation based on a complaint filed by Shajeera’s parents.

Shajeera was found unconscious in the water adjacent to the boat jetty at Kallummoottil Kadavu in Sasthamcottah around 7.30 pm on June 17, 2015, by the villagers. She was taken to the Padmavathy Hospital at Sasthamcottah but died three days later. Shajeera never regained consciousness during treatment at the hospital.

The local police registered a case and later transferred it to the Kollam Crime Branch based on a complaint filed by Shajeera’s kin.

“Shajeera died merely seven months after her wedding to Shihab. Shihab had told many people that he did not like Shajeera because she had a dark complexion. He harassed Shajeera by telling her that he received a white car as dowry, but she was dark,” said the police.

“Shajeera was Shihab’s second wife. His first wife had left him as his conduct was bad,” said a police officer.

On the day of the incident, Shihab travelled six kilometres with Shajeera to buy pearl spot, a fish that was available near their house. According to the police, he sat near the jetty till 7.30 pm and pushed Shajeera into the water under the cover of darkness.

People of the locality heard a splash in the water and rushed to the spot. It is alleged that Shihab did not cooperate with the rescuers and switched off his mobile. The police suspected him, but he was not charged as there were no eyewitnesses. Later, he was arrested based on a scientific probe.