KOCHI: The police took a tactical approach to arrest Uttar Pradesh native Aneesha, the stepmother who murdered six-year-old Muskan in Nellikkuzhi, Kothamangalam. Aneesha was a victim of black magic and believed that a jinn had possessed her. She was also three months pregnant, which posed a challenge during the interrogation. Ernakulam Rural SP Dr. Vaibhav Saxena detained a local sorcerer, Naushad, and conducted a staged ritual to extract information from Aneesha.
When Naushad arrived at the police station, Aneesha's demeanour changed, and she admitted to strangling the child to death. Following the police’s instructions, Naushad claimed that the jinn had left her body, and Aneesha reverted to her normal state. She was later sent to a mental health centre for evaluation, where doctors reported no mental issues. This led to her formal arrest.
The motive behind the murder stemmed from Aneesha's fear that Muskan, her husband's daughter from his first marriage, would threaten her children's future. She was also distressed by the possibility of her husband, Ajaz Khan, reconciling with his first wife. Both Naushad, the sorcerer, and Ajaz Khan were released after being briefly detained.
Ajaz Khan had been residing in Nellikkuzhi for over twenty years. After separating from his first wife, he began living with Aneesha five months ago. Aneesha began showing signs of mental issues after she became pregnant, prompting Ajaz to bring Naushad to his home for sorcery. On Thursday morning, Muskan was found dead at the house in Nellikkuzhi. Aneesha was presented in court and remanded.