A woman and her teenage son were brutally murdered by five people in western UP after she refused to withdraw two criminal cases against one of her friends. The woman’s burnt body was found in a field in Sambhal area while the son’s charred body was found near Aligarh district.
Benazir Malik, 38, and her 17-year-old son Salman were killed on January 11 by one Waseem and four of his friends. Malik had lodged a case of poisoning in December 2012, and another of abduction in September 2013, against Waseem.
The police, however, failed to act on either case.
“Benazir’s son was a witness in one of the cases. Waseem wanted Malik to withdraw the cases but she did not pay any attention to his threats. In November last year, he even arrived at our house at Loni and threatened of dire consequences if cases were not withdrawn. We approached the police but they did not act. Even after the recent abduction case, police lodged the FIR only when they were questioned by the media,” Malik’s sister Shireen Malik told Hindustan Times.
Waseem and the other four accused: Shabnam, Arif, Shan-e-Alam and Azharuddin, were arrested by the police on Monday. After interrogation, Waseem confessed to the crime.
Police said that on January 11, Shabnam invited the mother and son to a party at Waseem’s rented house in Mahendra Enclave. On arriving they were given drinks laced with sedatives.
After falling unconscious, the five slit the throats of Malik and Salman. The bodies were then loaded into a car hired by the gang, “Benazir’s body was set afire in a field in Sambhal while Salman’s body was burnt in Atrauli, near Aligarh,” said a police officer.
Waseem and the other four accused: Shabnam, Arif, Shan-e-Alam and Azharuddin, were arrested by the police on Monday. After interrogation, Waseem confessed to the crime.
Police said that on January 11, Shabnam invited the mother and son to a party at Waseem’s rented house in Mahendra Enclave. On arriving they were given drinks laced with sedatives.
After falling unconscious, the five slit the throats of Malik and Salman. The bodies were then loaded into a car hired by the gang, “Benazir’s body was set afire in a field in Sambhal while Salman’s body was burnt in Atrauli, near Aligarh,” said a police officer.
A missing person’s case was lodged by Malik’s estranged husband. Sources said that Waseem’s frequent visit to Malik’s house had soured marital relations and her husband had started living separately.
“Apart from murder weapons, we have also recovered Malik’s mobile phone from the accused,” said superintendent of police Muniraj G.