HYDERABAD: After hearing about Abdul Wahed Khan's murder, Allauddin Koti, a small but densely packed residential neighbourhood that was preparing to celebrate Id-ul-Fitr, was silent and solemn.
Abdul was a kind and religious young boy, according to his neighbours. Even in his final moments, they pointed out, he had obtained an ORS drink for his murderer.
Abdul was fasting and never missed namaz during Ramzan, according to a relative. On Thursday evening, as he was leaving the house, he told his mother that he would pray for her health.
Mohammed Jameel, a neighbour, recalled Abdul never refusing to help anyone who asked him to get something from a shop or needed any kind of help.
Farzana Begum, Abdul's grandmother, stated that the accused Imran Ali would spend most of his time at their home. Before killing Abdul, he was at their home and asked the eight-year-old to fetch ORS for him.
When Abdul did not return and his family began looking for him, Imran told them that he would offer special prayers for him because God listened to the prayers of people like himself. "He is such a cruel person that after killing the boy, he promised to help us bring Abdul home," she claimed.
The citizens of the neighbourhood sought the harshest penalty for him killing the boy. On Friday, Abdul's funeral rites were performed following a postmortem examination.
