Mosque official hacked to death on mere suspicion

A mosque secretary was hacked to death on Monday by a fruit vendor, for allegedly having an affair with the latter’s wife.
The deceased, Mohammed Hayath alias STD Babu, was a resident of Hegdenagar on Thanisandra Main Road. He was the secretary of Tipu Masjid in Hegdenagar.

Fifty-year-old Babu was killed by Mohammed Anwar. The incident happened at Anwar’s house in K Narayanapura in Kothanur. Preliminary investigations revealed that Babu was having an extra-marital affair with Anwar’s wife, Hajira. The incident happened around 9.30 am, when Anwar, after dropping his children at school, found Babu in his bedroom along with his wife, police said.

In a fit of rage Anwar took a machete and attacked Babu. “Anwar hit Babu on his head and shoulder. Babu tried to escape, but was chased down and attacked by Anwar at the hall and later outside the main door,” said deputy commissioner of police (north-east)
G Ramesh.

Babu suffered multiple injuries, and died on the spot. According to the police, Babu suffered five major wounds, two on his head, one on his shoulder, and two on his body, which proved fatal in the end.

After this, Anwar attacked his wife too. He hit her twice with the machete; she too suffered serious injuries and collapsed on the floor. Anwar then targeted his mother-in-law Mumtaz as well. By then Hajira had been able to get out of the house. Anwar chased her, but she managed to reach the road and alerted the neighbours. They saved her, and informed the police about the incident.

The police reached the spot and detained Anwar. Later, during interrogation, he told the police that he knew STD Babu, but was not aware that he was having an affair with his wife. When he found them together, he decided to kill them.

Babu operated a public phone booth, which was how he earned the nickname ‘STD Babu’. He later closed it down and moved on to real estate and other small businesses.

Ramesh said, “STD Babu was to leave for Mecca on Tuesday. He might have come to Anwar’s house to inform them about it. We are verifying the exact reason for the murder, though initially appears to be an extra-marital affair.”

Anwar also suffered some injuries in the bargain and was admitted to the hospital by police. He lived with his wife, two children, and mother-in-law. STD Babu too was married and stayed with his wife and children.

The body of STD Babu has been shifted to the hospital mortuary. The Kothanur police have registered a case of murder.