Nejaru Murder Case: “That animal deserves highest degree of punishment,” Noor Mohammed
Grieving father of Udupi Murder Case’s victim speaks to Vartha Bharati
Udupi: Noor Mohammed, the grieving husband and father whose wife and three children were brutally murdered in Nejaru village, Udupi, has called for the highest level of punishment for the accused. In the wake of this inhumane act, Mohammed expressed his anguish and urged that the perpetrator be brought to justice at the earliest.
The horrifying incident occurred on Sunday when Mohammed's wife, Hasina, and their three children—Afnan, Ainaz, and Aseem—were brutally stabbed to death by Praveen Chowgale. Fortunately, Mohammed's mother, Hajira, managed to survive by locking herself in the toilet, although she sustained serious injuries. During police interrogation, Chowgale admitted to targeting Ainaz, a former cabin crew member of Air India Express, citing unrequited love as a possible motive.
In an interview with Vartha Bharati at a relative's house, Noor Mohammed expressed his deep sorrow, labeling the accused as an "animal" and asserting that such individuals with a high level of vice have no right to live. He emphasized the need for the court to expedite the case, ensuring the criminal receives the highest level of punishment. Mohammed also called for an investigation into whether the accused had victimized or harmed others in the past.
Acknowledging the efficient handling of the case by Udupi Police, Mohammed expressed gratitude for their diligence in swiftly arresting the accused and continuing the investigation to uncover every detail. However, he voiced dissatisfaction with the silence of Air India following the incident. Despite the brutal murder of their employee, the airline had not reached out to offer condolences. Mohammed raised concerns about how a person with such a criminal background was employed by the company and questioned their failure to conduct thorough background checks.
Expressing disappointment, Mohammed revealed that Udupi MP Shobha Karandlaje had not contacted or offered condolences to the bereaved family. He noted the absence of any statements from her about the incident and expressed that a minimal word of condolence would have been appreciated during such a tragic moment.
Recalling his initial reaction upon learning of the tragedy, Mohammed shared the shock and disbelief he experienced. His attempts to contact the house went unanswered, and it was only after work that he discovered 28 missed calls on his phone. When he returned the call, the devastating news unfolded, leaving him in a state of collapse.
Reflecting on his daughter Ainaz, the primary target of the murderer, Mohammed mentioned that she had worked with Air India Express in Mangaluru for over a year and two months. Ainaz had traveled outside India on several occasions with her seniors, including Praveen Chowgale, who was a senior colleague. Despite Ainaz's rare choice of employment as an air hostess in the Muslim community, Mohammed supported her aspirations.
Ainaz had dropped out of MGM College in Udupi, where she was studying B.Com 2nd year, to pursue her dream of becoming an air hostess. Mohammed recounted her enthusiasm for the profession and her efficient fulfillment of duties for more than a year. He shared that Ainaz had visited their home a day before the tragic incident, gifting her younger brother Asim new shoes and participating in birthday celebrations for the maid's son.
The grieving father also revealed plans for the weddings of his elder son Asad and elder daughter Afnan in February 2024. He expressed disappointment that the family had not yet discussed these plans with relatives, and he informed his wife, Hasina, on Saturday night about sending Rs 50,000 for house painting. Little did he know that Sunday morning would witness the tragic loss of his beloved family.
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Bengal polls: TMC seeks removal of Bhabanipur poll official, alleges proximity with BJP's Suvendu
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Kolkata (PTI): The TMC sought the immediate removal of the returning officer for the Bhabanipur assembly constituency in West Bengal, alleging he has proximity with BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari.
In a representation submitted to Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Friday, the ruling party raised objections to the appointment of RO for the Bhabanipur seat in southern Kolkata.
The party alleged that the returning officer has a “documented and close association” with Adhikari, who is contesting from Bhabanipur against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Adhikari is also in the electoral fray from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district.
According to the complaint, the RO had earlier served as block development officer in Nandigram-II, where his proximity to Adhikari was allegedly visible in public engagements.
The TMC claimed that such an association creates a “reasonable apprehension of bias” and "compromises the neutrality" required for conducting elections.
The party also questioned the RO's current posting as additional director of land records, stating that the position is typically held by more senior officers.
The TMC alleged that his appointment to the role, particularly ahead of elections, raises concerns of “preferential and motivated deployment”.
Emphasising the critical role of a returning officer, the TMC said the official is responsible for key electoral processes, including nomination scrutiny, conduct of polling and declaration of results, and therefore must be “unimpeachably neutral”.
Citing Article 324 of the Constitution and provisions of the Representation of the People Act, the Trinamool Congress argued that the Election Commission is duty-bound to ensure free and fair polls by appointing officers without any perceived bias.
On 24th March, we formally wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner and CEO, West Bengal, flagging serious concerns over the appointment of Surajit Roy as Returning Officer for Bhabanipur.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 3, 2026
We presented clear evidence of his close ties with Suvendu Adhikari from his days as BDO,… pic.twitter.com/i6Rybh4xDt
The party also referred to the Model Code of Conduct, which mandates administrative neutrality, and alleged that the RO's continuation violates these principles.
The TMC representation noted that the Election Commission had earlier sought a panel of three alternative officers from the state government, following a complaint lodged on March 24.
While the state complied, no decision has yet been taken to replace the RO, the letter, signed by senior TMC leaders Shashi Panja, Aroop Biswas, Baiswanor Chattopadhyay, claimed.
Calling the situation "constitutionally untenable" and "electorally dangerous", the TMC urged the EC to take "immediate, reasoned and transparent action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process".
