Mumbai: Id-ul-Adha turned into a tragedy for the Qazi family from Bhendi Bazaar, after two brothers stabbed a younger sibling to death, and attacked and injured their sister early on Saturday. Police said the incident occurred in Imambara a little after 7 a.m. They said the brothers, Nizruddin (45), Alauddin (54) and Ameeruddin (52), live together in a flat in Bezul Amaan building, while their sister Rukhaya stays in Mazgaon.
An officer at JJ Marg police station, where the case has been registered, said, “Nizruddin was addicted to alcohol. He would stay out all night and come home at odd hours, which his brothers disliked. They had made their displeasure clear on several occasions, but Nizruddin didn’t change his ways. They also wanted to sell the flat and divide the proceeds so that they could stay separately; Nizruddin refused to cooperate.”
On Saturday, when Nizruddin returned home around 3 a.m., his brothers refused to let him in despite knocking and ringing the doorbell repeatedly. Nizruddin called Rukhaya, who reached their residence at 7 a.m. and got Amiruddin and Alauddin open the door. Soon, an argument ensued. Police said Nizruddin was furious at being made to stay out all night, and Rukhaya, who always favoured him in arguments between the siblings, chided Amiruddin and Alauddin for creating a scene publicly.
The officer added, “Amiruddin and Alauddin said if this was such a big problem, Nizruddin could agree to sell the flat and stay alone, and do whatever he liked. They demanded the matter be settled once and for all, and Nizruddin said he would not encourage any discussion on selling the residence.”
Within minutes, the heated exchange turned violent: Alauddin grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Nizruddin in the stomach. When Rukhaya tried to intervene, she too was attacked with the knife. Her screams attracted the attention of neighbours, who rushed to the Qazi residence. They took Nizruddin and Rukhaya to JJ Hospital, where Nizruddin was declared dead before admission, while Rukhaya was admitted.
Hospital authorities called the police, who picked up Amiruddin and Alauddin for inquiry. The police recorded statements from Rukhaya and the neighbours, after which the brothers were placed under arrest. DCP (Zone I) Manoj Kumar Sharma said, “The accused have been charged with murder and attempt to murder under the IPC. We are conducting further inquiries.”
Police said the dispute over the flat’s sale had been going on for several years, and the brothers have filed Non-Cognisable (NC) cases against each other over this in the past.
