Burial for skull of Safia, who was killed eighteen years ago; mother collapses in court after receiving daughter's bones and skull

KASARAGOD: Ayesha, who received the cardboard box containing the skull of her 13-year-old daughter, who was abducted and murdered from Adhur 18 years ago, collapsed with a cry. The girl's father Moitu and uncle Altaf broke down.

Safia, daughter of Moitu and Ayesha, natives of Aiyangeri in Coorg, was working at the house of KC Hamsa, a native of Muliyar Masthikund in Kasaragod, who was a contractor. Hamza abducted the child to his flat in Goa, killed her, chopped her up and buried her at the dam site where work was going on. The skull and other remains were brought to Seethangoli Muhimmath. After performing purification rituals and Namaz E Janaza, the remains were taken to the premises of Aiyangeri Muhiyadheen Juma Masjid in Coorg and buried at night itself.

The murder took place in December 2006. The skull and some bone fragments were found on June 5, 2008. That was kept in the Kasaragod district sessions court. Though the trial court sentenced the accused to death, the high court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment on appeal. The parents filed a petition in the district court to complete the last rites as per religious rituals after that.

It was discovered that it was a murder through the active intervention of the action committee that conducted an agitation. The investigation extended to Goa and the accused was arrested after the crime branch was informed about the connections of the accused Hamza in Goa.

"Since the skull became part of the case, there was a technical hurdle in handing it over without a final verdict coming."

Adv. C. Shukkoor,

(The then Government Prosecutor)