Before killing 7-yr-old niece, couple 'slayed' uncle for gain

Victim was editor of Urdu weekly

The husband and wife, who were arrested last week for kidnapping and murdering their seven-year-old niece, had killed their uncle—editor of Urdu weekly ‘Makhzan’ and founder-president of a credit co-operative society—in his office almost the same time last year, the police said. 

Syed Salman Shah (30) and his wife Shabrin Taj (20) “brutally killed” Hafiz Shamsul Huda (64) in his office, Al-Quds Minorities Credit Co-operative Society, in Tannery Road on July 3, 2013.

Huda was the younger brother of Salman’s father, Muslim Shah. The suspects landed in police net only last Wednesday, hours after they allegedly kidnapped their niece, Rathiba Nisar, for gain but strangled her in cold blood fearing she would recognise them upon being freed. Rathiba was daughter of Salman’s sister, Shameena. 

Unexpected revelation

Commissioner of Police Raghavendra Auradkar on Monday said that Huda was murdered in his office around 7.30 am on July 3 last year. The shocking revelation emerged during the interrogation of the couple, he added. Salman’s father was an attendant in Huda’s co-operative society.

A senior police officer, wishing anonymity, said that Salman and his wife had hatched a conspiracy to murder Huda to make some quick money. On July 3, at 7. 30 am, Salman and Shabrin went to Huda’s office. Huda would reach his office before his employees turned up. The couple asked him for money, after which a heated argument broke out between them, said the officer.

Salman pinned Huda to the ground, while Shabrin stabbed him in the abdomen. The couple threatened to kill him if he did not part with the keys of the locker, said the officer. 

Huda, who was profusely bleeding, gave them the money and jewels from the locker. But the couple strangled him “mercilessly” with Shabrin’s dupatta, which the police found at the crime scene, the officer added.

“After murdering Huda, the couple made sure that they did not use their mobile phones on the day of the crime. They pawned the jewels with a jewellery shop near Neelasandra and fled to Hyderabad. They told the police they took Rs 60,000 in cash and 400 gm of gold jewellery from the bank,” said the officer. 

With the stolen money, Salman set up an aquarium business and rented a house on Thimmaiah Road. Police had questioned 129 people in connection with Huda’s murder but Salman had not been considered as he was not in constant touch with the family which had not told the police about Salman as he visited them rarely. Huda had helped Salman financially, as he did not have a job.