CBI arrests four for murder of Juma Masjid staffer
Investigating agency finds victim was killed for trying to expose graft in building mosque.
KOCHI: A team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four persons in connection with the murder of Abdul Hakeem, an employee of a Juma Masjid in Payyannur more than three years after the incident. Three of the suspects in the case were held on Wednesday while the fourth on Thursday. The team lead by CBI officer Darwin arrested K.P. Abdul Nazar, 53, K. Abdul Salam, 72, and A. Ismail, 49, all native of Kotti on Wednesday. The three were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ernakulam and remanded. The court later granted custody of the accused to the CBI till April 12.
Another accused A.P. Mohammad Rafique, was arrested on Thursday. He was also produced before the CJM and remanded to judicial custody. The probe team will file a petition seeking his custody on Friday. Abdul Hakeem converted to Islam around 13 years ago. He was found murdered at a Madrasa near Kotti Juma Masjid on February 10, 2014. The entire body was charred leaving only skull and bone of the victim on the spot. The case was handed over to the CBI on a High Court directive. The CBI team unearthed the plot after several rounds of interrogation of the suspects.
According to the CBI, the murder was committed to cover up the corruption in connection with the construction of madrassa. Sources said K.P. Abdul Nazar was heading the construction of madrasa functioning under the Juma Masjid. Abdul Salam was the president of the mosque committee and Ismail the secretary. A.P. Mohammad Rafique supplied sand for the construction. Hakeem reported corruption in the construction work and diversion of fund from a chit business.
On February 9, Hakeem left home to attend a meeting at the mosque after telling his wife that he will expose corruption by committee members. He raised the same at the meeting, which angered the accused that led to the murder. According to CBI, the exact time of Hakeem's death could not be ascertained as 80 per cent of the body was charred. The murder might have been committed on February 2, 2014 or in the wee hours of February 10.