Father’s murder, son’s agony

On May 19, the Sayed family was ready to call it a day in their 10-by-10-ft hut in one of the bylanes of Shivaji Nagar, Govandi. But unlike every night, Shamim chose to sleep inside as his usual spot on the verandah was right opposite a mosquito-infested nullah.

However, his father resented the crowding. For Asmat, in his drunken state, it looked like Shamim had intruded too far. Around 10.30 p.m. with a kitchen knife in his infirm hand, he lunged at his son, who was too occupied eating his meal after a hard day. However, he could catch the glint of the weapon and in the nick of time held his father’s hand before the weapon reached his skin, recalled Jahan Aara, Shamim’s mother (45).

In the melee that followed in the dim room, Shamim grappled with his father and tried to free the knife from his grip. How their limbs got entangled, no one understood. Only when Asmat staggered towards the door it was clear that he was hurt badly on the right side of his chest. Aara said there was no bleeding though.

Asmat was quickly rushed to the nearest clinic available. Dr Riyaz Siddiqui, who displayed nondescript credentials (MIMS, DEH) and called himself a surgeon, sutured the wound with one single stitch and administered an injection charging a meagre Rs 15!

On his return, Asmat lay down and fell silent. This was disturbing. The doctor was summoned again. Siddiqui checked for the pulse but did not say anything. It was only after midnight that a neighbour convinced Aara that Asmat was dead.

An anonymous call summoned sub-inspector R S Shinde of the Shivaji Nagar police station to the spot immediately. He sent the body to the Rajawadi hospital for autopsy. Post-mortem termed the death unnatural. The police arrested Shamim under Section 302 (premeditated murder) and also booked the doctor under Section 201 for destroying evidence.

Shamim and Siddiqui are in the Ghatkopar police lock-up. Jahan Aara who is still not sure about what happened says her son refuses to eat or drink.