Man gets death penalty for murdering son, family by setting room ablaze

The Muttom First Additional Sessions Court at Thodupuzha in Idukki awarded the death sentence to Aaliyakkunnel Hameed, who set his house on fire, killing his son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, at Cheenikuzhy, near Thodupuzha, following a property dispute.

Judge Ash K. Bal awarded the death sentence to the 82-year-old. The court also imposed a fine of ₹6 lakh on the convict. He was also awarded another 10 years of imprisonment for setting the house on fire.

The court on October 28 found Hameed guilty of murdering his son and family.

The Karimannor police completed the probe and submitted a 900-page chargesheet before the court in 80 days of the crime. A total of 116 witnesses, 62 material exhibits and 92 pieces of evidence were presented before the court. Hameed was denied bail throughout the trial period.

The gruesome incident occurred on March 18, 2022. According to the police case, Hameed set the room in which his son and family were sleeping afire after bolting it from outside. He threw burning petrol bottles into the room through the window. He had also emptied the water tank to prevent rescue efforts.

Aaliyakkunnel Muhammed Faizal, alias Shibu, 50; his wife, Sheeba, 45; and daughters Mehru, 17, and Asna, 12, were killed.

According to the prosecution, a property dispute between Hameed and his son led to the murder. A quarrel had broken out between them on the day of the incident. They exchanged heated words and Hameed threw away the lunch Faizal had given him. He waited till 12 p.m. for the family to fall asleep, before setting the house on fire.

The local people learnt about the fire when one of the children called a neighbour, who then arrived at the scene. The family had rushed to the bathroom to escape from the fire, but there was no water as the water tank had been emptied by Hameed.