A 28-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the death of a 22-year-old woman who died after being set on fire in Malvani, has confessed to the crime and been sent to police custody till December 28.
Malvani resident Shama Sheikh was set on fire on December 17, and later died while getting treated in the hospital. The police during a search of her house, found two used condoms in the dustbin.
Accused Mohammad Ajmal Salim Siddiqui is a local resident and works as a carpenter in the Malvani area. The police had detained him on Saturday after members of the locality informed the police that they had seen him roaming in the area several times. The police said Ajmal confessed to his crime and was produced in a local court. He was sent to custody.
According to the police, during a search of Sheikh’s house, they found a newspaper cutting on which a mobile number was written. On tracing the number, they found it was Ajmal’s and arrested him. He has been booked under IPC sections 302 (Murder), 376 (Rape), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint). Officials believe that Ajmal raped Sheikh on the pretext of love.
On Thursday evening at about 6.30 pm, Sheikh emerged from her house, shouting for help. When her neighbours came out, they found her on fire. They immediately doused the flames and took her to the hospital, where she died while receiving treatment.
