Ahmedabad hit-and-run case turns into honour killing; father, son held
The victim, identified as Sofia, was allegedly killed with a hammer by her father and brother over a viral video and suspicions about her relationship
An incident initially reported as a hit-and-run in Ahmedabad has turned out to be a case of honour killing, with a father and his son getting arrested in connection with the death of a 22-year-old woman.
The case
The victim, identified as Sofia, was allegedly killed with a hammer by her father Mohammed Farooq and brother Mohammed Habil on the night of August 12. According to the police, the two then staged the murder as a road accident.
Sofia, who worked at Niki Hospital in Bopal, was returning home on a motorcycle with Habil when he claimed that an unidentified vehicle hit them. Both reportedly suffered injuries in the alleged accident, while Sofia succumbed to her injuries.
Also read: ‘Iva Nammava Iva Nammava’ Bill: Karnataka clears Bill to curb 'honour killing'
Based on Habil’s complaint, the M Division police initially began investigating the case as a hit-and-run. However, discrepancies soon emerged between his account and CCTV footage along the route.
Discrepancies
The location where Habil claimed the accident took place showed no signs of a crash. CCTV footage also showed no other vehicle at the spot. Footage near Advait Bungalows showed that no accident had occurred at the time claimed by Habil.
Investigation officers cross-checked Habil’s movements and found that his claimed route and timeline did not match the CCTV footage. During sustained questioning, Habil allegedly confessed, exposing the murder plot.
Further interrogation revealed, according to the police, that Habil and his father had planned and carried out Sofia’s killing.
The motive and planning
The motive, according to the authorities, was a video of Sofia with a young man that had gone viral, allegedly raising fears of social embarrassment within the family. Her father and brother suspected she was in a relationship with someone else.
Police said Farooq and Habil had allegedly planned Sofia’s murder around three months earlier. They chose August 12 to carry out the plan, taking advantage of the rain and selecting the route Sofia regularly used to travel to work.
Also read: TN to frame law against honour killings; late, but welcome, say activists
According to the police, the route had fewer CCTV cameras and was relatively dark, which they believed would help them avoid detection.
As part of the plan, Habil and Farooq went on a motorcycle to the hospital where Sofia worked. They took her with them on the motorcycle while returning from Bopal. Habil allegedly carried a hammer and struck Sofia on the head.
After Sofia became unconscious, Habil allegedly dropped her from the motorcycle and struck her twice more on the head with the hammer. The father and son then waited until she stopped breathing, police said. After her death, Farooq and Habil continued travelling with Sofia’s body on the motorcycle before placing it by the roadside.
The father and son allegedly staged the scene in an attempt to mislead the police and prevent the death from being suspected as a murder.