A man and his daughter were hacked to death by relatives after a property dispute in Karnataka’s Belagavi district over the weekend, police said Wednesday. The incident took place in Sulebhavi and there was a police investigation and a search for the suspects.
The deceased were 55-year-old Fakirsab Mulla and his 24-year-old daughter Afsana Mulla, police said. Both were attacked with sharp weapons, they said.
Police believe there could have been a long-standing dispute over property behind the double murder. The attackers, relatives of the victims, fled the scene and are now absconding, they said.
Family Member, Police Officer and Daughter Accused of Allegedly Violating Property Rights (Preliminary)
The families’ dispute had been ongoing for some time, police said. Police believe that the property disputes led to a violent confrontation.
Fakirsab Mulla and his daughter Afsana were allegedly attacked with sharp weapons during the incident. They sustained serious injuries and died, police said.
The exact date and time of the attack is still being investigated. Police also want to establish what is happening in the property dispute and who is involved.
Property and land disputes have been linked with violent crimes in different parts of India and usually escalate when long-running disputes between relatives occur. But investigators will need to establish the motive and circumstances of this particular case through evidence and witness accounts.
The accused absconded and police launched a manhunt.
The accused escaped from the scene, police said.
Investigators are going to ask family members and others who were involved in the dispute about what happened before the attack. Witnesses’ statements could also help police to reconstruct what happened in the deaths.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination as part of the investigation. The medical examination will shed light on the nature of the injuries and help investigators to determine the cause of the deaths.
Police are also looking at the evidence from the scene and other information that could help identify and locate the accused.
Investigation Underway Into Belagavi Double Murder
The double killing has raised concern for the local community and the victims, and the suspected attackers are said to be related.
Police are still searching for the suspects and trying to figure out what happened. The investigation will also look at the involvement of anyone other than the suspects in the alleged attack.
At this stage, the property dispute has been identified by police as the suspected reason for the violence, but the investigation is still ongoing. The allegations against the accused have not been established in court.
The case is a reminder of how long disputes over property can quickly lead to a family conflict that is very serious. But then the authorities still have to determine the exact sequence of events, identify everyone responsible and determine what was the cause of the deaths of Fakirsab Mulla and his daughter Afsana.
We can expect more details to emerge from the police investigation as the manhunt goes on.
