Two minor siblings and their mother were found with their throats slit in Srinagar on Wednesday morning. While the siblings were declared brought dead at a hospital, their mother is struggling for life but unable to reveal as to what befell the family. The ill-fated family belonged to a prayer leader (imam) who was out in mosque when the mysterious carnage took place.
Police are investigating the case but there are no definite leads to solve the mystery. locals said that Muhammad Iftikhar lone, imam of a prominent mosque in Iqbalabad, Bemina locality on the outskirts of Srinagar went to his quarter, adjacent to the mosque, only to see his three family members drenched in a pool of blood and their throats slit with shaving blades. He raised alarm and his followers gathered immediately and took the two siblings and their mother to the hospital. The doctors declared the two siblings — Aaliya Iftikhar (3) and Muhammad Hashim (2) as brought dead while their 40-year-old mother Naseema was still breathing. She was immediately operated upon. Doctors said that she is likely to survive. “She (Naseema) is not able to record her statement,” police said.
Iftikhar lone is a resident of Gurez along the line of Control in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. He has received religious education in a prominent seminary in Bandipora before descending to Srinagar to become prayer leader. Police have questioned him and a few other neighbours in connection with the blind murders.
"The forensic team has inspected the place of occurrence and the autopsy has been conducted", police said. Sources said that a packet of fresh razors was found at the site with three shavers used for slitting.