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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8 dead, dozens wounded in Russian strike on Ukraine's Odesa port
Kyiv (AP): Eight people were killed and 27 wounded in a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa, southern Ukraine, late on Friday, Ukraine's Emergency Service said on Saturday morning.
Some of the wounded were on a bus at the epicentre of the overnight strike, the service said in a Telegram post. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot, and cars were also damaged.
The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region.
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Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces hit a Russian warship and other facilities with drones, Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement on Saturday.
The nighttime attack on Friday hit the Russian warship “Okhotnik,” according to the statement posted to the Telegram messaging app.
The ship was patrolling in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage is still being clarified, the statement added.
A drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea was also hit. The facility is operated by Russian oil giant Lukoil. Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
