A man has been arrested days after a couple was found murdered in Ganaur in Sonipat district of Haryana in the early hours of Sunday, 8 September.
The bodies of Imam Mohammad Irfan (32) and his wife Yasmin (25) were found by the locals in Ganaur when Irfan did not show up for Azaan, the early morning prayer.
According to the police, the double murder took place in Manik Majri village between 11 pm and 4:30 am on Saturday night.
Satbir, the accused, alleged that the Imam practiced black magic, resulting in problems at his house, sources told The Quint. He confessed to the murder after police interrogation.
Earlier the police had picked three people for questioning after villagers informed them of the couple’s fight with their neighbours the same night over a common wall. However, police found no connection of the incident to the murder.
Satbir’s house is right opposite to the mosque Irfan was employed with. He had alleged that the 32-year-old used to practice black magic, because of which his father’s health was deteriorating and tensions were brewing in the family.
He said he attacked the wife with the same sharp weapon after she tried to flee in order to save her life.
No Morning Prayer Led to Suspicion
Imam, who hailed from Panipat, had joined the mosque four years ago after he shifted to Sonipat’s Ganaur. He had married Yasmin alias Meena, a year ago, in the same mosque.
The bodies of the couple were found after Imam skipped the morning prayer.
The FIR filed by one of the villagers, Khursheed stated that the Imam recites the call to prayer (azaan) every morning at 5:00 am, but no azaan was heard on Sunday morning, which roused suspicion.
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