In a shocking turn of events, Karnataka police have apprehended a 35-year-old man employed at Mangaluru airport in connection with the brutal murders of a woman and three children in Nejaru, Udupi, on November 12.
The suspect, identified as Praveen Arun Chougule, stands accused of the murders of Haseena M (47), along with her daughters Afnan (23) and Aynaz (21), the latter being an Air India employee, and her teenage son Aseem (14), a Class 8 student. The assailant, a visitor to the family, also attacked Haseena’s mother-in-law during the horrific incident.
Chougule, a Sangli resident working as a security staff member at the airport, was tracked down to Kudachi in Belagavi, where he sought refuge with relatives after committing the heinous crimes, according to police sources. The arrest was facilitated by utilizing technical data, including mobile tower location information and call records.
Suspected motives for the murders revolve around animosity Chougule allegedly harbored towards Afnan, the Air India employee. The victims, Afnan and Aynaz, had returned home from Mangaluru to spend the holiday weekend with their family in Udupi.
Authorities are currently investigating to determine the primary target, considering the girls arrived home the previous night, and the assailant struck in the morning. Earlier on Tuesday, police hinted at a potential workplace-related angle involving the older daughter.
After committing the murders, Chougule reportedly traveled to Kudachi in Belagavi, masquerading normalcy to spend Diwali with his maternal relatives.
The family patriarch, Noor Mohammed, employed in Saudi Arabia, and another son working as ground staff in an airline company in Bengaluru, were away when the incident occurred. They returned on November 12 to attend the funeral of their deceased family members.
Haseena’s mother-in-law, Hajira (70), also sustained injuries and was hospitalized. As Haseena’s husband worked abroad, she resided with her children and mother-in-law.
The tragic incident unfolded at Tripthi Layout in the Malpe police station limits around 9 am. Despite the gruesome attack on all family members, Hajira managed to lock herself in the bathroom, prompting neighbors to intervene upon hearing cries for help. The investigation continues to unfold the details surrounding this devastating event.
