Udupi: The Udupi police have ruled out a burglary angle in the chilling Nejaru murder case, emphasizing that gold jewelry in the house remained untouched.

Superintendent of Police Dr. Arun K while addressing the media on Sunday stated, "The murders appear to be linked to personal issues; no stolen items have been identified.”

On Sunday morning, the victims, Hasina (42) and her children Afnan (22), Aynaz (20), and Asim (12), were brutally stabbed to death, and Hasina's mother-in-law was also attacked but survived after she locked herself in the toilet.

“The victims were stabbed to death using a sharp weapon. Hasina's mother-in-law was also stabbed by the assailant and was later admitted to the hospital,” he informed, expressing that the investigation of the matter had been expedited.

Responding to a reporter's query, the SP further clarified that, “No items were stolen from the house, it does not appear that the act was committed with the intention of theft. We suspect that the murders took place pertaining to personal issues, as of now we cannot ascertain the exact motive behind the murder.”

In the meantime, a rickshaw driver identified as Shyam speaking to the media revealed that the accused arrived at Hasina residence on his auto rickshaw from Santhekatte. Recalling the incident, Shyam stated, “Today between 8:30 am and 9 am, a person who came on a two-wheeler boarded my rickshaw on Queen's Road. He instructed me to take him to Tripthi Layout in Nejaru. Accordingly, I left him near the gate of the house where the murder took place in Tripthi Layout.”

"After I left the house where the murder took place, within 15 minutes, he (assailant) came back to Santhekatte auto park and boarded another rickshaw that was ahead in the queue. I spotted him and asked him that if he had intended to come so soon, I would have waited there. However, he said its okay. He also instructed the rickshaw driver he boarded in Santhekatte to drive faster,"Shyam recalled. 

Shyam described the assailant as aged around 45 years old, speaking in Kannada, wearing a mask, bald-headed, with only his eyes visible and a white complexion.

The chilling incident unfolded at 8:30 am when the assailant broke into Hasina's home, stabbing her and her daughters. Hasina's younger son, Aseem (12), who heard the commotion while cycling outside, was also stabbed to death. Hasina’s Mother-in-law, Hajira, narrowly escaped by locking herself in the toilet.

Hajira, despite police instructions, remained in the locked toilet out of fear. Upon forced entry by the police, they discovered her injured but alive.

Reportedly, Hasina's husband was working abroad. Preliminary information indicates two children were home, while another son worked in Mangaluru.

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Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.

In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.

Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.

In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.

The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.

Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.

It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".

"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.

It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.

The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.

On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.

Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.