Nine murders in fortnight raise concern in Hyderabad

Despite police efforts, Hyderabad recorded at least nine murders in the last fortnight, mainly linked to extra marital affairs, property and financial disputes. Community and religious elders condemned the violence and urged people to resolve issues through dialogue and guidance of elders.

Hyderabad: Despite the police top brass making efforts to prevent homicide cases in the city, killings over issues revolving around extra marital affairs, property issues, financial disputes and vengeance continue unabated.

In the last fortnight, at least nine murders were reported in different areas of the city, at an average of one murder every two days. The sequence of murders started soon after the ghastly murder of one Junaid Baharmos at Yakutpura by a group of people, who included three rowdy sheeters of Rein Bazaar police station.

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The murders not only spread panic in society, but also woke up community elders and religious elders, who condemned the violent crimes and urged people to refrain from such inhumane acts.

“The Quran says whoever takes a life will be as if they killed all of humanity, and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity. So people should refrain from committing the big sin and try to resolve issues with the help of elders,” said Ilyas Shamshi, a religious scholar and khateeb Masjid –e Hari Masjid, Sultan Bazaar.

Advocate and social activist S Q Masood said that people are killing each other over small issues that can be easily resolved through dialogue. “We conducted workshops for the Imams of mosques and temple committee members, briefing their role in shaping the community and weaning away youth from crime. The role of community leaders, religious scholars and parents is very important to prevent crimes,” said Masood.

Police officials said that due to sustained efforts, gang wars have come down in the city. “A majority of the murders are due to property issues involving families, extra marital affairs and financial disputes. In only a handful of cases, the suspects have a previous criminal record,” said an official of Hyderabad police.

A retired police official said that officials should also check corruption and broker business at police stations. “Brokers work as a catalyst in triggering lawlessness. Mainly due to their involvement, small issues develop into a bigger conflict. They should be kept away from police stations as their primary aim is to make money and not resolve issues, be it marital issues or property issues,” said the official.

Spate of murders in recent times:

• December 3: Shaik Junaid Bin Mohammed Bharmos of Yakuthpura killed by a group of 12 people under Rein Bazaar police station

• December 7: Stepfather murdered his three year-old son at GM Colony under Chandrayangutta PS

• December 8: A teenage girl murdered by her relative at Musheerabad under Warasiguda PS

• December 10: Arvind murdered under Kamatipura PS

• December 13: Shaik Aamair of Chintalmet murdered under Pahadishareef PS

• December 14: Mohammed Irfan murdered under Tolichowki PS

• December 15: Mursheed, a Rohingya migrant murdered under Balapur PS