Thodupuzha: The Muttom First Additional Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced Cheenikuzhi Aliyakunnel Hameed to death in the 2022 murder of his son, daughter-in-law, and teenage granddaughters at Cheenikuzhi in Idukki over a property dispute. The court also imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh on the convict. 

On October 28, the court found Hameed guilty of murdering his son and family by setting their house on fire. The gruesome killing took place on March 19, 2022. The victims were Muhammad Faizal (45), his wife Sheeba (40), and their daughters Mehrin (16) and Asna (13).

Investigations revealed that Hameed had ensured the family was asleep before draining water from the tank and disconnecting the electricity supply to prevent any rescue efforts. He then locked the bedroom door from outside and hurled two petrol-filled bottles through the window after lighting them.

As flames engulfed the room, Faizal and his family screamed for help and rushed to the bathroom, only to find there was no water. A neighbour, Rahul, who tried to intervene, was pushed away by Hameed. The accused reportedly returned and threw more lit petrol bottles into the burning room.

Hearing the screams, neighbours rushed to the spot but were unable to rescue the family as the house was already engulfed in flames. Later, rescuers recovered the charred remains of the four victims — along with burnt schoolbooks, toys, and clothing — painting a haunting picture of the tragedy.

After committing the murders, Hameed fled to a relative’s house, where he confessed to the crime. When the relatives attempted to inform the police, he escaped once again. He was later apprehended by the Karimannoor police while trying to flee in an autorickshaw.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that Hameed had meticulously planned and executed the brutal killing of his son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters by setting their house on fire while they slept. The prosecution urged the court not to consider the convict’s age as a mitigating factor, citing the crime's calculated, cold-blooded nature. 

The police completed the investigation and filed a 900-page chargesheet within 80 days of the crime. Hameed was denied bail throughout the trial. The chargesheet listed 116 witnesses, 62 material exhibits, and 92 documentary pieces of evidence. Except for one witness who turned hostile, all testimonies, circumstantial evidence, and forensic findings strongly supported the prosecution’s case.

The investigation was led by DySP A G Lal, then Deputy Superintendent of Police (Narcotics), Idukki, who was also holding additional charge as Thodupuzha DySP at the time.